LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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TALES 



OF 



Early German History. 



BY 



/ 



CHARLOTTE MOSCHELES 






n 



AUG 12 1886^-/ 



Or 



WASHlt^^ 



NEW YORK: 

The Franco-Amekican Book Company, 

9 West 27th St. 

1886. 



'\ 




Copyright 1886. 

BY 
H. R. EOCKWELL. 



DEDICATED 
TO 

BESSIE p. ROCKWELL, 

.ie: 

BY 
HER OLDEST FRIEND IN EUROPE 



C. M. 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER. PAGE. 

1. What sort of people the Germans were, - I 

2. How the old Germans lived and made war, 5 

3. Boniface, 9 

4. Pepin the Less, 12 

5. Charlemagne, - 16 

6. More a]:)Out Charlemagne, - - - - 21 

7. Latter years of Charlemagne, - - - - 25 

8. The Successors, 30 

9. Lewis, the first German King, - - - - 34 

10. The Last of the Carlovingians, ... 38 

11. King Conrad I., 41 

12. King Henry, - - 44 

13. Villages and Towns, - - - - - 47 

14. King Otto L, ...--.. 51 

15. King Otto IL, - - - - - - - 55 , 

16. King Otto HI., - - - - - - 58 

17. King Henry II. , ...... 62 

18. How the Germans lived eight hundred years 

ago, - - 65 

19. Emperor Conrad II , - - - - - 70 

20. Henry III., The Black, 72 

21. Emperor Henry IV., 74- 

22. Henry IV. (concluded) and Henry V., - - 78 

23. How the Germans lived six or seven hundred 

years ago, 81 

24. First Crusade, 87 

25. Knights in the Olden Time, _ . . . 96 

26. Empercr Conrad III., 100 

27. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, - - - 105 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER. PAGE. 

28. Barbarossa and the Crusaders, - - - III 

29. Life in the Castles, - - - - - - I1I6 

30. About the other Emperors of the Hohenstaufen 

race, 121 

31. Emperor Frederick II., - - - - - 125 

32. Orders of Knighthood, 133 

33. Conradin, the Last of the Hohenstaufens, - 140 

34. The Hanseatic League, . . . ,. 146 

35. Emperor Rudolf of Hapsburg, . . . 150 

36. Emperor Rudolf (concluded), - - - 155 

37. Emperor Albrecht and the Swiss, - - - 162 

38. How one King at a time was not enough for 

the German people, 171 

39. Emperor Charles IV., 178 

40. King Wenceslaus and Emperor Sigismund, - 185 

41. The Vehmgericht^ 192 

42. Pastimes in the Middle Ages, - - - 196 

43. Emperors Albrecht II. and Frederick III., - 205 

44. The Poor Scholars, 210 

45. Emperor Maximilian, 214 

46. About the Guilds, Corporations and Companies, 220 

47. Various Trades and Professions in the Middle 

Ages, - 226 

48. Quack Medicines and the Invention of Printing, 232 

49. The Peasants' War — Life in Towns, - - 236 

50. Martin Behaim and Christopher Columbus. — 

Close of the Middle Ages, .... 244 



TALES OF EARLY 



GERMAN HISTORY, 



CHAPTER I. 



WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE THE GERMANS WERE. 




HERE are a few of you, my young 
English friends, who know some Ger- 
mans, and have mastered more or less 
of their language ; and some of you have, per- 
haps, traveled up *' Father Rhine,'' as we call the 
river, and seen several of the principal towns 
and splendid hotels in Germany. But there are 
not many of you, I fancy, who have been told 
anything about the German people in ages long 
ago (the Teutons as they were then called), or 
their mode of worship and warfare, their customs, 
habits or dress, and that is what I want you to 
know, and to show you how the old barbarians 



2 ^ Early German History. 

became by degrees a great nation, equally distin- 
guished in science and art. 

In so doing I do not mean to burden your 
memory with many dates, nor do I intend you 
to read these tales about Germany as a lesson- 
book. They are derived from sources which I 
believe to be true, and the kings and their reigns 
are given in due order. If much of graver 
matter is omitted, at least no other fables, ex- 
cept the old legends which belong to ^'folk-lore/' 
are introduced in these pages. Should I suc- 
ceed in making you laugh at some of my anec- 
dotes, I shall be pleased, as I like young people 
to enjoy themselves ; and if you also find out 
that you are much happier than the old heathen 
Germans, since you have received the blessings 
of Christianity and have better modes of life and 
means of education, I shall be still more pleased. 
The feelings of happiness and gratitude for 
your privileges will brighten all your future 
lives. 

There is a saying that you may know what 
people are like by their dwellings. Well, these 
Germans of old, with their scanty clothing, 
formed of a bearskin thrown over one shoulder, 
were a match for their wretched habitations of 
low mud hovels, light and air coming in at the 
door while the smoke went out of it as best it 
might, for there were neither chimneys nor win- 



Early German People, 3 

dows. A large wood-fire in the centre of the 
hut served to bake the flat cakes of bread and 
to roast what flesh the father and his sons might 
bring home. Hunting or warfare amongst the 
different tribes were the sole occupations not 
considered beneath the dig^nity of the men, 
while the poor women had to do all the menial 
work, their lords and masters often lying lazily 
stretched out on a buffalo-skin and never giving 
the least assistance. 

The dense forests harbored all sorts of wild 
beasts, but there were spaces cleared for wor- 
ship, surrounded by mighty oak trees, where 
their priests, the Druids, worshiped their hea- 
then gods. These priests were always chosen 
from amongst the elders of the tribe. They 
wore white robes, and their silver beards gave 
them a venerable aspect in the moonlight in 
which they usually held their services. When 
there was a question of peace or war with a 
neighboring tribe, the priests would mostly de- 
cide for war, when a chorus of men, young and 
old, was sure to support them, making their 
weapons clash with a frightful noise. You see 
they were brave and hardy, and had a great 
love of liberty, and besides this — though you 
would hardly believe it — they could sing beau- 
tifully when stimulated by hero-worship. A 
hero, in their eyes, was a man who had killed a 



4 Early German History, 

great many enemies and delivered his tribe from 
danger, and he was exaUed above every one. 
Harpers, called bards, went about the country 
reciting their exploits ; the harps were but rude 
instruments and the songs mere ''recitative" 
without melody. They stirred the hearts of the 
youths and made them long for victory and for 
the honor of being sung of in turn, and for the 
reward of following those dead heroes to the 
Walhalla, their heaven, where they would live 
for ever in glory. 




CHAPTER II. 



HOW THE GERMANS OF OLD LIVED AND MADE WAR. 




PON the whole, I do not think you find * 
anything very loveable in these rough 
Germans, and yet they certainly had 
their good qualities. They were, as I said, 
hardy and brave, ready to die rather than be 
subdued by an enemy. This latter quality was 
soon put to the test ; for the Romans were a 
warlike nation, had conquered many countries, 
and broke into Germany, fancying it would be 
an easy matter to overcome that country also 
and carry off the people as slaves. 

This, however, was not so easily managed ; 
for the Germans resisted fiercely, and it was not 
until overwhelming numbers of soldiers had 
been sent into Germany that the Romans be- 
came masters of the country. Years of cruelty 
and bloodshed followed ; for the Germans (ever 
ready to retaliate) tried to invade Rome — foolish 
as it may seem that a handful of barbarians 
should attack the well-disciplined Roman legions. 

5 



6 Early German History, 

I should have only horrors to tell of this war- 
fare, had not all the ills which befel the Ger- 
mans turned to their good, which so often hap- 
pens in this world of ours. It is true, they were 
carried off as slaves and had much to endure, 
but they learnt a great deal from the civilized 
Romans : such as living in well-built houses, 
having their children taught in schools, and 
seeing justice done where there had been cruelty 
and injustice, and, in fact, how to submit in all 
things to wise laws. The Romans, on the other 
hand, tried to obtain the stalwart Germans for 
their armies ; and their emperor chose Ger- 
mans for his body-guard, dressed them splen- 
didly and allowed them every luxury. Thus, if 
we meet our German friends ten or twenty years 
later, we shall find them improved in everything ; 
some of them respectable farmers tilling the soil, 
others cultivating all kinds of fruit and vege- 
tables, while their villages are ruled by a 
count {Ga7igra/), whose jurisdiction is re- 
spected. In time of war they willingly followed 
their leader, whom they named Duke {Herzog). 
There were moonlight meetings, as heretofore, in 
which the leaders determined whether there was 
to be war or peace ; but I verily believe that 
their warlike propensities were still such as to 
make them always vote for war. While father 
and sons left their homes, mothers and daugh- 



Mode of Life. 7 

ters pursued their more peaceful occupations. 
They minded the house and farmyard dihgently, 
spun the flax which they cultivated, then wove 
it into fine white linen and made it into long, 
loose garments which they wore girded with a 
wide belt. While spinning, they told their young 
boys all about the exploits of their fathers now 
at war with their enemies and sure to conquer 
them. Then when these returned laden with 
spoil, oh ! what feasting there was ! what draining 
of huge cans of beer ! what devouring of oxen and 
wild boar, fish and honey ! what singing of bards 
all the time of the blessings of peace obtained by 
these conquering heroes, wishing them a long 
life and the honors of Walhalla after their death. 
I wish I had not to tell you any more about 
wars and bloodshed, but, alas ! it was not 
enough for the Germans to have conquered the 
legions of the celebrated Roman general Varus, 
by the help of the hero Herrmann, for other 
enemies arose. A people called the Goths broke 
into Germany — Teutonia as it was then called — 
and having done all the mischief they could to 
the poor Teutons, turned to Rome with fire and 
sword. And yet their young king, Alaric, must 
have valued the art treasures of that celebrated 
city; for he not only tried to carry some of them 
off, but was going to settle in Italy and reign 
over it when death overtook him. And how do 



8 



Early Gennan History. 



you think his people buried him ? They drained 
the river Busento into a canal which they dug 
for the purpose, and in its dry bed set up the 
corpse of their king on his favorite charger, 
completely armed, then allowed the river to flow 
back into its bed and so hide for ever the grave 
of their valiant young king. Although I cannot 
explain to you the why and wherefore of this 
secrecy, yet I should not mind it had they not 
ensured it by barbarously murdering all the 
slaves employed in this work. 

After the Goths came the Huns, under their 
fierce and inhuman king Attila, a very scourge 
to his enemies and a bloodthirsty and, to all 
appearances, unconquerable foe ; but the united 
strength of the Germans, Romans and Franks 
(called French later on) managed to get the 
better of him. When he was killed there was no 
grief, but great rejoicing. 



E?P'r''r^ : 'r^ PP'-p* r* r* H r' r> r* HT^Pr^ 



\m 




^^^^f^^^i 



^^^^^ 



CHAPTER III. 



BONIFACE. 




WISE king of the Goths, Theodoric, 
much esteemed by the Romans and 
Germans, now began to rule over them. 
He embraced Christianity, civilized his people 
and had them taught to read and write. He 
was the first German king who got one of 
his bishops to translate a Bible into the Gothic 
language — a book which is now carefully pre- 
served and considered one of the greatest treas- 
ures of antiquity. Fancy the trouble of writing 
out the whole of the Bible after having trans- 
lated it, printing not being invented in those 
days. There were also pious men who, like 
the missionaries of our time, traveled about 
such countries as were still heathen, taught the 
people and tried to convert them. 

One of the best of these was Boniface, who 
came from England to preach the Gospel and 
teach many useful things. For more than fifty 
years he traveled about, doing all the good in 

9 



lo Early Ger^nan History. 

his power. Once, on coming to a large oak- 
tree under which a tribe of Germans used to 
pray to the god of the heathen, he said: ''The 
axe should be laid to this tree," and, suiting the 
action to the word, he felled it there and then. 
The benighted worshipers stood all amazed, 
expecting their god to send his thunder and 
lightning on the impious head of Boniface, 
But no ! the sun shone on the deed ; then they 
consulted together, and coming to the conclu- 
sion that the God of the Christians must be 
more powerful than their own god, they were 
all baptized Later on, the site of this heathen 
oak became the foundation of a Christian 
church. 

How sorry you will be to hear that this wor- 
thy apostle of Christ met with a mxOst cruel death 
in the land of the Friesis — a rude and cruel peo- 
ple. They slew him, as a blasphemer of their 
gods, in the most barbarous manner ; and not 
until many years after did the Hessian town of 
Fulda (where he had built a school) erect a 
monument in his honor. The greatest honor, 
however, to this day is, that he is said to have 
fully deserved the name of Boniface, or the 
Benefactor. 

Ever}' one of my readers knows some of our 
neighbors the French, or may have been in 
their beautiful country, which, in those times, 



Boniface. ii 

had the name of Gaul. Their kings were 
heathenish and all their ways barbarous. At 
length one of their kings went to fight a mighty, 
overbearing tribe which threatened destruction 
to the Franks, or Gauls ; and he vowed that if 
the God of the Christians, reputed to be all- 
powerful, should give him the victory, he would 
adore Him, and Him only, for the remainder of 
his life and try to convert his people also. Well, 
he did obtain the victory, and what is more, the 
king kept his word. So he himself and thous- 
ands of his subjects w^ere baptized about Christ- 
mas time, somewhat in the way of the Baptists, 
not merely being sprinkled with water, but 
thoroughly immersed, and that no less than 
three times. They were robed in white, and 
were so animated with religious fervor that they 
could bear up against this cold bath without 
shuddering. 

Christian priests soon came into the country, 
teaching the people and preventing the kings 
from carrying out their barbarous customs ; 
prisoners were treated more leniently and jus- 
tice done more frequently than heretofore. 



•^-^5*^^°^^^^^S°'^^*S^^ 




CHAPTER IV. 



PEPIN THE LESS. 




T this time the post of Major-domo (in 
German, Hausmeister) was created, an 
office of much power and responsi- 
bility; the Major-domo being- next the king 
and endowed with the power to invest the 
nobiHty with certain lands, which they might 
hold as their own in times of peace provided 
they would take an oath to fight for the king 
in times of war. The lands thus granted 
were called fiefs, and the oath of fealty taken 
by the nobles made them vassals of the king, 
the people being faithful followers of the nobles. 
Our present institutions are widely different. 
Our nobles inherit or purchase their lands ; we 
pay our judges, officers and workmen, and 
livings are distributed to the learned divines. At 
that time there was not much money, but a 
good deal of uncultivated land to be had, so 
how could they do otherwise than pay services 
by a grant of lands } 

12 



Pepin the Less. 13 

You cannot think what a splendid sight it was 
when the nobles took the Oath of Fealty. The 
king sat on his throne, adorned with crown and 
sceptre ; and he alone had a right to wear his 
hair as long as it would grow without being 
touched by scissors. The Major-domo was at 
his side, and there were thousands of nobles 
in glittering armor, and thousands of people 
anxious to see the king and the nobles, who, 
on bended knees, vowed to assist the king 
in the destruction of the country's enemies. 

Another grand ceremony was the March 
meeting, when the king again sat upon his 
throne in the open air for three whole days to 
receive presents amid loud cheers. At the end 
of the ceremony he ascended a golden car, 
drawn by four oxen, and drove back to his 
palace. 

I am sure you picture the Major-domos to 
yourselves as powerful and mighty men. And so 
they were, until one Pepin, very small and un- 
dersized, but very clever, was chosen to fill the 
post. Many laughed at him and said all sorts 
of ill-natured things about his incapacity to lead 
the army. ''I will bide my time," thought 
Pepin, and his time came soon enough. 

There was a grand fight of wild beasts ; the 
king with his nobles and their splendidly attired 
dames watching it from a gallery — a savage 



14 Early Ger^nan History, 

pleasure not unlike the bull-fights in Spain. A 
lion and a buffalo had just entered the lists, 
when the king called out, **Who of you gentle- 
men would Hke to step down and kill the lion V 
Of course, all remained silent, only a few voices 
ventured to say, "Better do it yourself. Sir King !" 
Pepin, however, took a sudden leap across the 
barrier, dashed into the arena, and in a trice 
had killed the lion. You may depend upon it 
he was never molested again with ill-natured 
remarks. 

But this small man did not only aim at being 
brave, his ambition rose much higher ; he 
wanted the throne. It is true, the king was 
very dull and stupid — quite unfit to reign. So 
Pepin sent a letter to the Pope, who was then, 
as now, the first of all bishops, only that he had 
much more power than Popes are allowed at 
present Pepin put it to him very cleverly that 
he had all the work to do — that all the cares 
rested upon him, the king taking his ease in 
perfect idleness. ''Did the Pope think that 
just.'*' If he had all the trouble, why not also 
have the title — why not be king himself.^ " Why 
not, indeed ?'' said the Pope, " whoever does the 
work should earn the benefit," and he forthwith 
proclaimed him king. 

Pepin's reign was a most prosperous one, as 
he raised the country to high honors and power. 



Pepin the Less. 



15 



When he died, he left two sons in every way 
worthy of their father. One of them was 
snatched away by an early death, but the other 
became the mighty King Charlemagne, or Caro- 
lus Magnus. 




CHAPTER V 




CHARLEMAGNE 768-8 1 4. 

OU see I have added the date of his 
reign, and shall do so with all the kings 
that followed him, that you may 
know when they lived Charlemagne was 
as tall and stately as his father had been 
small; he excelled in all manly exercises, and 
when seated on his war-horse in full armor 
he struck such terror into the hearts of his 
enemies that they would often acknowledge 
themselves vanquished rather than encounter 
him and his brave warriors in a pitched battle. 

His reign lasted no less than forty -six years, 
and every year he increased his dominion until 
at last he became master of a wide and mighty 
realm. Do not, however, think that this king 
delighted in warfare only ; on the contrary, he 
never ceased to use every means for the welfare 
and improvement of his people ; while for him- 
self he continued studying Latin and became 
the eager pupil of many wise and clever men 

16 



Charlemagne. ly 

who found a hearty welcome at his court. To 
make the most of time, he had followers who 
read to him while dressing or taking his meals. 
He built many schools that children might be 
better taught than they had hitherto been. He 
often visited these schools and had the best 
pupils pointed out to him and encouraged them 
by many kind words and the promise of pro- 
viding for them when grown up to be clever 
men. When the poor children found he was 
as kind to them as to the sons of the nobles, 
they knew that he was a king such as there had 
never been before ; and you may imagine how 
they loved him. 

Pray, let me not forget to tell you how fond 
he was of music, for indeed he did love it. He 
sent for clever organ players and singers to 
come from Italy and perform before him. 

As to justice, it used to be done in a most arbi- 
trary way by judges who, although noble by 
birth, were not wise in counsel ; and that, too, 
this great king altered for the better. Whenever 
he met divines who tried to do good and ad- 
monished the people to do so likewise, he 
showed them much honor, went to listen to 
their sermons and gave them the money to 
build new churches, the finest of which is the 
cathedral of Aix-la-Chapelle. 

I must tell you an old legend I heard about 



i8 Early German History, 

this cathedral. The architect who built it was a 
long, long time erecting it, and the king getting 
impatient to see it completed made the poor 
architect promise either to have it done by a cer- 
tain day or to forfeit his head. Such a violent 
measure would certainly not be permitted in our 
days, but this was a thousand years ago, and 
many things which were then done would now 
be considered a crime. This building went on 
and on, but ala,ck-a-day ! it was not finished 
when it ought to have been ; so fancy the dis- 
tracted state the architect must have been in on 
the very last night at the thought of having but 
a few more hours to live! He was half crazed, 
indeed, and that accounts for his having prayed 
not to God (which, as a good Christian, he 
ought to have done), but to the devil ! " Oh, 
Sir Devil, come and help me ; so that when I 
wake up to-morrow, there the cathedral may 
stand, all finished, and my life be saved ! In re- 
turn, Sir Devil, thou shalt have for thine own the 
soul of him who is the first to pass through the 
cathedral. That's a bargain. '' After this wicked 
prayer he ran about wildly, madly, till he dropped 
on his bed quite exhausted and fell asleep. 
When he awoke it was bright day, and oh, mir- 
acle ! the cathedral stood there completely fin- 
ished. Well, he did rejoice, but only for a few 
moments, for who was to fall into the clutches 



Charlemagne. 19 

of the devil ? and was it not worse to have lost 
an immortal soul than his own life, so lately 
bought at the cost of another ? 

At these maddening stings of conscience he 
fell on his knees, and this time fervently prayed 
to God to ward off the mischief he had done, 
and God heard him. Scarcely had the massive 
doors of the cathedral been flung open to prepare 
for the reception of the king and court, than a wolf 
rushed in. Has a wolf a soul ? The architect, 
of course, said it had and that Mr. Devil was 
well paid ; but he, in his turn, vowed he would 
not be balked, and would prove it, too, by 
destroying the whole city in revenge. So he 
went to Holland and tore up one of its largest 
dunes, with the amiable intention of carrying it 
to Aix-la-Chapelle and suddenly dropping it and 
burying the devoted town beneath it — souls and 
all. 

He accordingly shouldered his burden and 
walked, walked, walked. * * * ]g^t ^^g 
road seemed interminable and he got very hot 
and tired with that heavy load upon his shoulder. 
*'If I only knew how much farther I have to 
go," said he to himself, but the road was solitary 
and no one near to ask about the distance. At 
length he met a poor old woman and accosted 
her with, "Pray, my good woman, how far might 
it be from here to the town ? " She must have 



20 Early German History, 

been shrewd enough, for after having a good 
look at him she thought to herself, *' You don't 
look pleasant, and maybe you have some un- 
pleasant intention, too/' So she said, "Oh, sir, 
its very, very far off. Look at my shoes ; they 
were new when I left my home and now they 
are tattered and torn with walking." 

Upon hearing this the devil, in a fit of passion, 
threw down his load, that large dune that he had 
carried all the way from Holland, and that here 
formed quite a mound. Little did he know that 
he was only a mule or two distant from the 
town and that the mound thus created should 
afterwards become a place of amusement for the 
good people of Aix-la-Chapelle ; for in process 
of time they built a pretty house on the little 
eminence, which they named Luisberg. You 
may see them sitting there any fine afternoon, 
sipping coffee and eating cake, and in winter 
time enjoying many indoor amusements. In- 
deed, the Luisberg Hotel is now quite a famous 
place^ and you cannot help rejoicing at the good 
turn which wickedness and superstition here 
took, wishing that all your own troubles may 
end as pleasantly, by the help of a kind Provi- 
dence. 



CHAPTER VI. 



MORE ABOUT CHARLEMAGNE. 




ND now that I have come to the end of 
the legend, I must tell you that the 
great King Charles also founded many 
houses for studious and clever men and women 
who did not care to live in the gay, bust- 
ling world, but preferred devoting all their 
time and learning to teaching young people. 
All those amongst them who had talent were 
brought up to become teachers in their turn, 
and thus to spread science in their own and 
other countries. Others were taught the tilling 
of fields and the management of farm-yards, 
which greatly increased the produce of the land. 
All had to pray with their teachers, to tend 
the sick and speak comforting words to the 
dying ; also to keep their garden and house in 
what we should call apple-pie order. 

These useful houses were called convents ; 
there were some convents for men and others for 
women, the former called monks and the latter 

21 



22 Early German History. 

nuns. They taught the people, and there still 
exist many relics of their industry, such as 
prayer books illustrated by paintings, and the 
most elaborate work in lace and embroidery, 
which you will have an opportunity of admiring, 
as they are carefully preserved in museums such 
as the South Kensington and others. 

Well, all these institutions and their labors, so 
useful at the time I am speaking of, are no longer 
needed, and have, for the greater part, been 
aboHshed. There are now many ways of get- 
ting information, many schools for even the poor- 
est to get a good education at and perfect any 
talent they may be endowed with. Science is 
not confined to the learned few, but spread 
abroad for the many in journals on new dis- 
coveries and scientific matters. As for agricul- 
ture and horticulture, they, too, have their 
widely circulated papers and books to teach the 
ignorant. 

We have also become aware that we may 
serve God and our fellow-men better than by 
shutting ourselves up and saying a great many 
prayers. We have to work to the utmost of our 
abilities in the world and for the world ; the 
statesmen in governing, the scientific men in 
finding out new and beneficial means for throw- 
ing light on dark questions, those who have to 
earn their living in working hard and raising 



Charlemagne. 23 

their several professions, and the workmen in 
applying diligently the many new inventions 
made in machinery. Then we must one and 
all pray to God to help us in our endeavors and 
to improve us in Christian love and charity, that 
we may put aside small bickerings and bloody 
strife, thus enabling us to devote more leisure to 
the production or enjoyment of the fine arts. 
We are not content in our days to produce an 
illuminated prayer book or an elaborate piece of 
needlework. Artists, both male and female, 
paint large pictures, made known to thousands 
in public exhibitions. Music is taught even in 
village schools, that the children, when grown 
up, may have acquired a taste for the works of 
the greatest composers, which are made ac- 
cessible to them by small entrance fees to grand 
concerts. 

There still remain a few houses where pious 
men and women tend the sick and teach the 
ignorant; but they are not subject to the narrow 
ideas of the olden times, so that they also are a 
blessing according to our modern ideas. We 
cannot help admiring the kindness of those who 
cheerfully undertake so serious a task, provided 
they have no nearer domestic ties, such as aged 
parents or near relations requiring their assist- 
ance. 

I told you that Charlemagne conquered many 



24 Early German History. 

tribes, thus extending his kingdom ; but there 
was one people that would not submit, and these 
were the warlike and heathenish Saxons. Every 
time they had apparently yielded and adopted 
the Christian religion they broke forth again, nor 
did they shrink from their barbarous custom of 
making their prisoners the victims of human 
sacrifice. It took Charles full thirty years to 
subdue them and their leader Whitekind, and to 
get them settled in new-built towns with 
churches and schools, where they became gra- 
dually civihzed. There was one superstition 
they clung to above all others, and this was the 
witches' dance, which they fancied was held in 
the night of the ist of May. Large fires were 
kindled on the highest peak of the Hartz moun- 
tains, called the Blocksberg, and above it, in mid- 
air, the witches were supposed to dance with 
the devil on broomsticks, rams and black cats. 
But that wild fancy has died out by degrees. 



CHAPTER VII. 



LATTER YEARS OF CHARLEMAGNE. 




HARLES was so celebrated for his 
prowess that the Pope called for his 
assistance against the Longobards 
who were threatening to invade Rome. The 
brave king and his Franks crossed the Alps 
and soon put the Longobards to flight. Charles 
did not much care about the Pope and all 
his subjects conferring praise and honors upon 
him. What he Hked was the sight of splen- 
did, ancient Rome and the intercourse with 
the clever men he met there; and he tried, 
through their aid, to improve himself in science 
and the fine arts, and made many of them follow 
him back to his own country to teach his sons. 
His daughters, although princesses, had to 
learn spinning and weaving, and were made to 
be saving and industrious according to the an- 
cient German custom ; for he loved the Ger- 
mans and generally resided with them in prefer- 
ence to living in the French provinces of his 

25 



26 Early German History. 

kingdom. He did not, however, approve of their 
carousings and the waste of time in sleeping off 
their excesses. He hated idleness, was very mode- 
rate in eating and drinking, and did not waste 
many hours in sleep ; indeed, he was known to 
carry on business through many hours of the 
night. So does likewise the present Emperor 
William of Germany, an octogenarian, ever ac- 
tively employed for the welfare of his people ; 
but he has the great advantage over the early 
kings of whom we are speaking of being able to 
telegraph his orders to all parts of his large do- 
minions, and hearing in a few minutes, or at 
most hours, that they have been received and 
executed. His armies, too, are easily conveyed 
to distant countries by means of railways or 
steamships, no matter how large their number 
or how heavy their ammunition. 

King Charles, who mostly resided at Aix-la- 
Chapelle, had to lose quite a month before he 
could give orders to quell an insurrection which 
might have broken out in some distant province. 
The quickest way of sending messages was by 
horsemen, but they were often stopped by the 
enemy or delayed by bad roads, bad weather 
and inundations. The moving of an army 
seemed all but impossible, what with mires and 
ditches, mountains and forests which had to be 
passed. An active king like Charles would, of 



Charlemagne. 2*J 

course, often set out to command his troops, 
and so you may fancy what a restless, laborious 
life he led. 

In the intervals of peace he was all zeal in 
farming, being quite aware how many eggs 
were laid, how much milk produced, and whe- 
ther the fields were tilled so as to bring forth a 
plentiful harvest. I am sure you call him a 
model king, and so did all the people and Pope 
Leo, his friend and Admirer. This powerful 
prelate wished to bestow some great honor 
upon the great King Charles ; so one day he 
crowned him in St. John Lateran's, at Rome, 
the people calling out: *' May blessings descend 
upon the wearer of this golden crown — this 
greatest prince of all Christendom!'* 

Germany, France and Italy now belonged to 
him ; but even strange kings wished to show 
him their regard and esteem by sending him 
valuable presents. Thus he received the first 
clock ever known to strike the hours, and the 
first elephant ever seen in Europe. This latter 
great wonder, when parading the streets led by 
its keeper, performed the most astounding feats 
with its trunk. 

The latter years of the great king's life were 
embittered by illness and grief. He became too 
weak to mount his horse and take the com- 
mand on the battlefield, nor could he bear the 



28 Early German History, 

weight of the heavy armor then worn. His 
three sons had to lead the armies in his stead, 
which they did vaHantly ; but, alas ! the two 
elder died, one after the other, and only the 
third, a most delicate young prince, was left to 
him. You may fancy his grief at these be- 
reavements and how so much sorrow increased 
the bodily ailments of his old age. When about 
to die, he sent to Aix-la-Chapelle for his only 
son, Louis, prayed with him, and, placing the 
crown upon his head, exhorted him to reign as a 
pious, wise and just monarch. 

He died in the year 814; and, instead of 
being buried hke other people, his corpse, clad 
in full armor, was placed in a stone arm-chair 
in the spacious vault of the cathedral at Aix-la- 
Chapelle, his prayer-books on a stone table be- 
side him. Thus he sat for many, many years ; 
and you will hear by-and-bye of a king who 
caused this vault to be opened 

Many statues were erected in different towns 
in honor of Charlemagne, and the minstrels went 
about singing his praise in rather high-flown 
strains. He was the sun, said they, shedding 
light all around him ; his high and mighty sta- 
ture towered above everybody and commanded 
respect ; wisdom shone from his bright eyes and 
manly brow ; and, as old age overtook him, the 
severity of his countenance and the silver locks 



Charlemagne, 



29 



which encircled it commanded love and venera- 
tion. Terrible in war, merciful in peace, he was 
respected even by his enemies ; and to the poor 
and needy — whom he was ever ready to assist — 
he proved a blessing. He was a king who had 
the fear of the Lord before him, and, by it, was 
guided in all his actions. 







-^ 



^ 






^.^.r 






CHAPTER VIII. 



THE SUCCESSORS. 




OUIS was very pious, too, but very- 
weak withal and unable to rule his 
people without much assistance. He 
used to ask everybody's advice, always waver- 
ing between different opinions, and when he 
did feel what was right he was too feeble to 
act up to the promptings of his conscience. 
In fact, he loved his books better than his 
people and preferred solitary studies to an active 
life. 

About that time there were many priests am- 
bitious to rule and better able to reign than the 
king ; and what did they do but actually make 
him believe that a life of prayer, and of prayer 
only, was the most praiseworthy, and allow them 
to rule that he might pray. He knew very well 
that his father had desired him to act after his 
own example in fulfilling his numerous duties as 
a king, not neglecting either prayers or study, 
but not devoting himself to these exclusively. 

30 



The Successors. 3 1 

If you look at the map you will find that 
France, Germany and Italy belonged to his 
kingdom ; to him this was overwhelming, and 
he thought that by dividing his lands between 
his sons he should lighten his own burden. But 
on the contrary, the sons were dissatisfied 
with their respective shares, complained of in- 
justice in the division of the lands, made war 
upon each other, and, impossible to forgive, 
ended by making war upon their aged father. 
Shattered in mind and body, he wanted to re- 
tire into a convent. To this the priests objected, 
fearing that another king would not allow them 
quite as much power but would prefer ruling the 
kingdom in his own way. 

They called Louis the best and wisest of 
kings, henceforth to be named Louis the Pious ; 
but poor Louis the Pious was vanquished on the 
battle-field of Colmar, in Alsatia, by his own 
sons — saw them triumphing over him and then 
surrendered. They wickedly had him im- 
prisoned, but the best among them, bearing his 
father's name, managed to set him free. Then 
the bishops who, seeing all his power gone, had 
made peace with the sons and forsaken the king's 
cause, declared he could only be forgiven his 
sinful ways ))y confessing in church before his 
people that he had deserved punishment and al- 
lowing himself to be publicly scourged and then 



32 Early German History. 

sent into a convent. To all this the poor old 
benighted king submitted ; but his son Louis 
again delivered him and set him upon his throne. 

Well, this happiness was of short duration, 
for new dissensions arose between father and 
sons ; and just as they were going to meet each 
other in the field, death overtook the king in an 
island near Mayence. Not many mourned 
his loss, his weakness having injured almost all 
his subjects, who now hoped for renewed pros- 
perity under a new king. 

But no such good thing was in store for them, 
since the three brothers, Lothair, Louis and 
Charles quarreled as to who should be emperor. 
Lothair, the eldest and most hard-hearted, pre- 
tended the realm was his, but Louis and Charles 
united against their brother; for they, too, wanted 
to reign, and said: ''Let us divide our father's 
possessions and each have a share.'' Who was 
right ? Nobody knew. The bishops maintained 
there ought to be no division and no three kings. 
Others said the realm was too large for one man 
to reign over ; Charlemagne could do it, but now 
that he was dead there was no one hke him, and 
Lothair least of all. Let the three brothers come 
to an amicable understanding and each have a 
part. 

Louis and Charles agreed, but Lothair would 
not ; so there was civil war again, which ended 



The Successors. 33 

in the terrible battle of Fontenay, Charles and 
Louis being victorious and Lothair put to flight. 
His brothers did not pursue him when they saw 
the number of corpses lying on this desolate 
battlefield, where so much innocent blood had 
been shed because three brothers could not 
agree ! . 

Lothair wandered about in strange countries 
and tried to enlist new followers for a new war- 
fare against his brothers ; but now the bishops 
interfered, declaring that the brothers must 
agree. After cavilling quite a twelvemonth 
about the conditions of peace, they met at Ver- 
dun, in France, and settled that Louis was to 
reign over the German part of the empire as the 
first German king, under the title of Louis the 
German. The other brothers had France and 
Italy, but as this is a German history we need 
not trouble ourselves further about them. 




CHAPTER IX. 




LOUIS, THE FIRST GERMAN KING 843. 

ONLY want you to remember that at 
the treaty of Verdun, in the year 843, 
Germany became a separate king- 
dom, ruled by Louis, the son of Louis the 
Pious, and grandson of Charlemagne. He 
was a good, peace-loving king who would 
willingly have ruled his people in equity and 
forbearance, giving them good institutions and 
avoiding wars. However, as his barbarous, 
heathenish enemies, the Slavs, would annoy him 
by breaking into his kingdom and committing 
many ravages, what could he do but fight them 
till they were conquered and driven away ? Then 
his brothers tried to rob him of some of his 
lands, so that there again was discontent and 
strife, much against his wishes. 

But as if troubles by land were not enough, there 
were others, and the worst of all, by sea. A strong 
race, the Normans, came in swift-sailing ships 
from Norway, that cold and barbarous country. 

34 



Louis ^ the First German King, 35 

They approached the coasts by night on their 
sea-horses, as they called their ships, and landed 
to pillage the houses, to carry off the flocks and 
to burn the property. Men and women were 
dragged off as captive slaves, and before the day 
dawned — before the glare of their fires had been 
noticed by the sleeping neighbors — the white 
sails of the pirates were far out at sea. They 
would often appear in mighty, well-manned 
fleets, and overrun towns and large tracts of 
land ; light boats carried them up a river, and 
where a tract of dry lan4 intervened they would 
carry these boats on their shoulders from one 
town to another. Hamburg, Bremen, Cologne, 
Aix-la-Chapelle, Treves and other tpwns were 
devastated by them. The burning of those 
places was easy work, all the houses being built 
of wood. You can imagine that the men en- 
listing in such a cause were a set of dishonorable 
ruffians. They soon made friends with all the 
refuse of the population, who guided the lawless 
invaders where they might have lost their way, 
and together with them attacked the property of 
the good and affluent citizens. 

In France they did even more mischief than 
in Germany, and the king not being able to 
conquer them tried to conciliate them by gifts. 
At last the three brothers agreed to expel them 
by joint forces from the coasts of France, Italy 



36 Early German History. 

and Germany, and they might have done so had 
not the two quarrelsome brothers disagreed 
again with Louis, who was unable to satisfy 
either their claims or those of some of his near 
relations. They were bent upon strife and they 
had plenty of it, for the Normans finding no 
opposition grew bolder than ever. Then the 
nobles built strong castles with high and mighty 
towers along the coast, armed all their followers 
and placed watchmen in their towers. As soon 
as these perceived a pirate ship in the distance 
they gave notice in the castle and out rushed the 
armed men and received the robbers with such 
a volley of arrows that you may be sure they 
were glad to retreat and take to sea again. 

These strong castles were a great security to 
the country, but they had their evil consequences, 
too; for the nobles, feeling unconquerable in their 
strongholds, got proud and overbearing, and 
would sometimes disobey even their king. The 
country people who had no fortified castles used 
to fly before the pirates, carrying with them 
their families, their flocks and all their moveable 
property into some dense forest, defended by 
thickly planted thorns. Sometimes their hiding 
place was not discovered, but. at any rate they 
suffered much loss by their houses being de- 
stroyed. 

The troublous reign of this peace-loving king 



Louisy the First German King. 37 

ended after thirty-six years of strife. He died in 
the year 876 at Frankfort, where you may see 
in the senate-house (called the R'dmer) the sup- 
posed likenesses of the German kings in mural 
paintings (called in art language al fresco, 
meaning that they were painted direct on the 
walls by some particular process). Do not fail 
to have a look at them if ever you go to Frank- 
fort. 





CHAPTER X 

THE LAST OF THE CARLOVINGIANS. 

SHOULD like to tell you more about 
paintings, but I am obliged to turn 
to another bad king, Charles the Fat, 
son of Louis the German. He had inherited 
France and Italy from his brothers who died 
before him, so that all the lands held by Charle- 
magne came into his possession again ; but 
what of that ? He was cowardly, and neither 
good nor brave, and instead of sending his large 
armies against the Xorman pirates, tried to buy 
them off by grants of money and lands which, 
of course, incensed his nobles. 

When at last he was visited by an incurable 
disease, they voted him altogether incompetent 
to reign, made him abdicate in favor of his 
nephew, Arnulf, and shut him up in the convent 
of Reichenau, where he soon died. 

If ever there was a good and powerful king it 
was this Arnulf. ''Conciliate the Normans, in- 
deed ? " said he, ' better drive them far away and 

38 



The Last of the Carlovingians. 39 

persecute them, so that they shall never return 
to our coasts. Fear them ? Not we ! they must 
learn to fear us ! " And so it happened. He did 
drive them away and they did fear him, and for 
a long time did not venture to return to the 
coast. 

It really seemed as if the good times of Charle- 
magne had come back, when, after a reign of 
only twelve years, Arnulf died, leaving his little 
son, seven years old, to become king by proxy, 
and to be crowned in due form under the title of 
Louis the Child. His was a sorry reign again, 
for there were three councillors, consequently 
three different opinions and three men who were 
more intent upon their own benefit than upon 
that of either king or state. 

So what was the consequence? Desperate 
warfare, not by the seafaring Normans this time, 
but by a savage people, the Huns, that came 
from Hungary, invading Germany by thousands 
and tens of thousands. You see they had chosen 
the right moment for their depredations, and 
their king, called Attila, who was a very monster 
of daring and cruelty, swiftly overran Germany 
while the councillors of the child-king were de- 
bating how to oppose him. He burnt down 
ever so many villages and towns, devastated 
whole tracts of land, destroyed convents, carried 
away everything that was valuable, and finally 



40 



Early German History, 



routed the German troops in a fierce battle. 
That was a wretched state of things, and 
wretchedly matters went on after the death of 
the poor little king, who only lived to be eighteen 
years old. 




^ayjTj-^;-!'; ^ 






CHAPTER XL 



KING CONRAD I 9 1 1, 




HERE being no direct heir to the crown, 
the dukes went on quarreling as to 
who should be chosen to wear it, 
and, after a troublous time, fixed upon Duke 
Conrad. He was crowned in 911 under the 
name of King Conrad I. 

The country was in anything but a prosperous 
state, but the new sovereign was brave and soon 
became dreaded by foreign foes. He was also 
kind, and tried to win the hearts of his subjects 
by his affable manners. He used sometimes to 
visit the convents and one day came to St. Gal- 
len just as the monks were sitting down to din- 
ner. '*You must share with me whetn^r you 
like it or not," said the king, and sat down. "We 
have but poor fare to-day," said the superior ; 
''to-morrow it will be different, for to-morrow 
there will be new bread and beans." As though 
/haf were a treat ! I can hear you say ; but you 
see they were not accustomed to indulge in as 

41 



42 Early German History, 

good meals asjj/c>« get. The king made some 
of the pupils of the convent school read to him 
during the meal, which they did so well that he 
got them to come up close to him and put a 
gold coin into the mouth of each. One of the 
boys who could not make out why^ began to cry 
and spit out the piece of money. *' Quite right, 
my boy/' laughed the king, "thou art cut out 
for a good monk, who ought to despise money 
as well as other wordly goods." After dinner 
the whole school had to defile before the king 
in the garden, and what did he do but have a 
quantity of fine, red-cheeked apples strewn on 
the ground. '* Let us see whether they will be 
tempted to take them,'' said the King. But no ! 
not one of them tried to pick up an apple. Then 
the king, greatly pleased with their excellent 
training, told their abbot they must have three 
extra holidays in the year, which, as you may 
fancy, the boys were not a little pleased at. 

I told you the nobles had got rather proud 
and overbearing ; indeed, they seemed to have 
quite forgotten there was a king, and that on his 
accession they had bound themselves, by the 
oath of fealty to be his good and faithful sub- 
jects. They now wanted to carry on their own 
petty warfare against each other, which did much 
harm to the country, and brought no end of trouble 
on the poor king during his seven years' reign. 



King Conrad L 



43 



'-When he felt death approaching, he said to 
the heir presumptive, his brother Eberhard: 
*^Take the royal insignia and carry them to 
Henry of Saxony ; he is the mightiest of all the 
dukes and will know how to rule the country. 
I did not manage to protect it, and no more will 
you ; but Henry is powerful and success attends 
him. Seek his alliance and friendship and you 
will prosper/' Eberhard and the nobles felt the 
truth of these words and acted accordingly. 




CHAPTER XII. 



KING HEXRY 9 I 9. 




HEN Duke Eberhard and his knights, 
carrying the crown, the royal mantle, 
M the sword and the crown jewels, ar- 
rived in Saxony, they were told that Duke 
Henry had gone to his castle in the Hartz 
Mountains, not far from the town of Brunswick, 
his favorite residence. 

There they went and found him doing — zt'ha/ 
do you think? You will never guess, so I must 
tell you. He was listening to the nightingales, 
thrushes and other birds, and trying to imitate 
their notes, which attracted them towards him, 
then he caught them in nets and trained them, 
which made him known as King Henry the 
Bird-catcher. Poor birds, you will say, and so 
do I. Henry loved the chase, too; and the 
Hartz ]\Iountains, then abounding in wolves, 
bears and buffaloes, gave him ample means of 
following his bent 

You must not, for all that, believe that he was 

44 



King Henry. 45 

always roaming amid mountains and forests ; 
for he had built many towns and firmly repelled 
the enemies who wanted to rob him of them. 
Now that the crown was offered him he gladly 
accepted it, feeling that he should wear it with 
due honor and soon restore peace amongst the 
rebellious barons. In this he succeeded. Partly 
by leniency, partly by firmness, he turned them 
from being his bitterest foes into the most faithful 
followers. 

Then reigning would have been an easy task 
had not the wild Hungarians again broken into 
Germany, burning, pillaging and carrying off 
thousands of prisoners. They had quite the ad- 
vantage over the German foot-soldiers, being 
mounted upon fleet horses which bore them 
along like the whirlwind. I scarcely know what 
might have become of the poor Saxons had they 
not somehow succeeded in catching one of the 
chief leaders of the Hungarians and kept him a 
close prisoner. *'We must deliver him," said 
his countrymen. *' We will not give him up," 
said King Henry. At last, after much parley, it 
was settled that his ransom should be a nine- 
years' armistice between the two nations, on con- 
dition of the Saxons paying a yearly tribute to 
the Hungarians. *' If they leave me nine years 
in peace," thought Henry, ''I shall so com- 
pletely strengthen my army and give it such 



46 



Early German History. 



splendid horsemen that I may surely resist 
them." 

And so it happened. For at the end of the 
ninth year, when the enemy demanded his usual 
tribute, he was sent off with threats, and ulti- 
mately beaten in the famous battle of Merseburg. 
Those of the Hungarians who were not killed 
perished with frost and hunger, or were made 
prisoners. So thoroughly were these wild hordes 
beaten that they did not for many years venture 
to re-enter the German boundaries. 




CHAPTER XIIL 



VILLAGES AND TOWNS. 




TOLD you that King Henry built many 
towns, but, pray, do not fancy they 
were such as we inhabit. There were 
no row^s of houses, no well paved and lighted 
streets, only some wooden one-storied huts scat- 
tered here and there ; and if thai was a great im- 
provement, think how matters must have been 
before. It seemed more difficult in those days to 
build a town than to erect splendid churches, for 
I have told you about the cathedral of Aix-la- 
Chapelle, and we know that Mayence and Bam- 
berg had equally fine ones in very remote times. 
King Henry had much trouble in persuading 
his people that they could live more securely in 
towns than in a lonely hut, but, by degrees, he 
succeeded in that also. The next improvement 
was their building chimneys and having glass 
windows ; yet their towns did not resemble ours. 
They were built more like fortresses; mighty 
walls encircled them ; all their bridges were 

.47 



48 Early German History. 

draw-bridges, and moats kept off the hordes 
of enemies by being filled with water, while 
watch-towers erected on the walls enabled the 
townsfolk to prepare for their approach. . 

As to trades, there were none in those early- 
days. Every owner of land had a number 
of people under him, some of whom tilled 
the soil while others attended to the cattle, 
and that, you will say, is the case with 
us, too. But they also had their own peo- 
ple to make them a pair of shoes, a new saddle, 
a tool or piece of armor when wanted ; they 
shoed their own horses * their meat could not 
be cooked until they had shot it ; their fish not 
dressed until . caught in their pond, and as to 
vegetables and fruit, I think they were badly off 
for those. The culture of flowers was not known, 
but then, as now, there must have been the 
lovely wild flowers — those sweet children of 
the soil, that grow without nursing, and are 
often disregarded, but ought not to be. 

In process of time, however, men took to 
trades, and chose to settle in a way which is 
now rather avoided. The shoemakers, tanners, 
smiths, tailors and other tradesmen would Hve 
in the same row of houses ; and that is why 
in Germany many streets retain the names of 
Smith Street, Shoemaker Street, Tailor Street, 
Tanner Street. 



Villages and Towns, 49 

The oldest German towns were built close to 
rivers, as 

Hamburg on the Elbe, 
Vienna '* '' Danube, 
Frankfort ' " Main, 
Cologne ' *' Rhine, 
Lubeck ' '' Trave. 
Most of these rivers flow into the great Nor- 
thern Sea, or the Baltic, so that the situation of 
these towns soon helped on trade with foreign 
nations. 

I do not think the Germans of those times 
had any other ornaments than curiously wrought 
weapons ; and if one of our ancient friends were 
to wake up by miracle seated in one of our 
luxuriant arm-chairs, a soft carpet under his feet, 
and surrounded by a profusion of costly glass, 
china and nick-nacks of all countries and styles, 
what would he say ? And again, if the ancient 
lady in the loose linen garment could behold 
our belles squeezed into their costly brocades, 
what could not fail to be her astonishment? But 
a truce to my t/s. The dead do not rise, they 
slumber peacefully while the world travels on. 
It is true, in small matters, not everything is an 
improvement ; but Germany has been and is 
making gigantic strides towards perfection ; and 
I would have you keep your eyes open to the 
difference of her state now and heretofore. 



50 Early German History. 

Let us return to the '' heretofore." There was 
one serious evil. The masters of the land pos- 
sessed not only house, fields and farm, but their 
men also were their property. They had not 
only to work for the master, but they and their 
families were not allowed to leave him unless 
he permitted it. Poor things I they had no more 
Hberty than a caged bird, and that we pity, too ; 
and although men were not exactly in cages, 
they, being creatures endowed with reason and 
feeling, must have suffered more intensely ; and, 
indeed, are they not entitled to liberty of action 
provided they have not forfeited it by crime? 
You know that in England as well as in America 
and other enlightened countries slavery is not 
permitted, and benevolent men are trying their 
utmost to abolish it in the few benighted countries 
where wicked slave-traders desire to keep it up. 
I hope you have heard of the great African 
traveler, David Livingstone, who sacrificed his 
own life in order to suppress the slave-trade. 



\ 



-°^>o^«i 











^^^j^rj,^^.,^,^^^ j'^^^j^;j ^^^>| 




CHAPTER XIV. 




KING OTTO I. 936. 

HEN he felt himself dying, King Henry- 
sent for his nobles and made them vow 
fidelity to Otto, his eldest son, who 
was entitled to the crown by birthright. 

Nevertheless, his younger brother Henry 
would fight for it, and not being able to obtain 
it, attempted the life of his brother Otto. In this 
wicked design he failed ; still we can scarcely 
blame the king for having him imprisoned. He 
managed to escape ; and, at Christmas time, as 
Otto was hearing mass in the cathedral of Frank- 
furt, a man suddenly dropped down on his 
knees before him. Who should that be but 
brother Henry, imploring him to forgive and 
forget. Otto at first turned from him in disgust, 
but the good abbot of Fulda stepped forward, 
and, Gospel in hand, read aloud St. Peter's words: 
" Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother 
who has sinned against me? seven times?'' 
* * No, " answers the Lord, ' * seventy times seven. " 

51 



52 Early German History. 

Upon hearing which, Otto clasped his contrite 
brother in his arms and forgave him. 

Henry was so overcome by his generosity 
that he became the king's most faithful ally, and 
helped him to repel his enemies, the Slavs and 
Danes. When these northern enemies were 
conquered, the king had suddenly to turn to 
Italy to assist the lovely queen Adelaide, whose 
husband had been cruelly murdered. Not un- 
like king Richard III. of England, the assassin 
dared to ask her to become his wife. Of 
course she loathed him. So a kind friend, a 
priest, got her safely placed in the strong castle 
of Canossa, and then hurried off to Germany to 
solicit the aid of King Otto. 

''I am coming well armed and with a strong 
force,'' said he, "this Queen Adelaide is not a 
stranger to me ; her praises have long been 
ringing in my ears. She has lost her husband — 
I am a widower — perhaps I can win her and at 
the same time place the crown of Italy on my 
head. At any rate I will send her a letter and a 
ring in token of my allegiance. " So he dispatched 
a messenger to the castle of Canossa. But what 
was to be done to obtain admission '^, The draw- 
bridges were up, the moats were full of water 
and the strong walls well guarded to protect the 
young Queen. Who could tell but that this 
messenger was an enemy.?* Better not let him 



King Otto L 53 

in. He, however, managed to deliver his mes- 
sage, and in what manner, do you think? He 
tied the letter enclosing the ring to an arrow, 
and, being a clever marksman, he shot it into 
the castle. 

The Queen read it with delight ; and Otto was 
as good as his word. He came and delivered 
her from her persecutor who had usurped the 
crown of Italy. Then he married her and thus 
became himself king of that country. 

I am grieved to say that all his happiness was 
marred by the rebelHon of his undutiful son, 
Ludolf, who attempted to reign in Germany 
while the King was in his Italian dominions. 
Otto soon returned ; got the better of the rebels, 
and forgave his son as he had forgiven his 
brother. But the matter did not rest there. The 
wild Hungarians, finding the king engaged in 
civil war, thought this might be again a favor- 
able opportunity for their wicked designs upon 
Germany, and they rushed in great force along 
the shores of the Danube and Rhine and com- 
mitted the most frightful depredations. They 
had, however, counted without their host, for 
Otto soon overtook them and so thoroughly 
routed them in the famous battle of the Lechfeld, 
near Augsburg, that they fled and never troubled 
Germany again. 

Otto, like Charlemagne, was honored by 



54 Early German History, 

foreign princes and received costly gifts from 
them. Never had our ancient Germans seen 
such precious silver tankards or such splendid 
carpets, or, above all, such curious creatures as 
ostriches, camels and lions. The king' had the 
animals kept in fine cages and shown as the 
curiosities of his court 

The Pope himself placed the imperial crown up- 
on his head, which made him the greatest monarch 
in Christendom ; the greatest, yes, but not the 
happiest, for the Italians did not approve of 
being ruled by a German king. They rebelled 
against him as soon as he tried to enjoy him- 
self in peace with his old mother and his wife 
and family in his beloved Germany ; so that he 
had constantly to travel backwards and forwards 
between Germany and Italy. The two countries 
being so far apart he felt that to be an irksome 
task. 

He died in the church of Memleben, in Thu- 
ringia, while attending divine service. It was a 
noble death and worthy of such a noble life. 




CHAPTER XV. 



KING OTTO II. 972. 




HE young- King, Otto H., son of Otto I., 
was only eighteen years old when 
he ascended his father's throne — just 
the age of Queen Victoria when she began to 
reign ; but she had wise counsellors who guided 
all her actions, and he, poor young fellow, was 
to be counted answerable for all his doings. 

He was slightly made, yet clever at manly 
exercises ; he had a cultivated mind and many 
gifts which endeared him to his subjects. He, 
in return, loved them ; so that people began to 
expect great things from their clever, cheerful, 
lively young King. But it was not likely that 
he would achieve them at that early age, and 
he lacked the firmness which had distinguished 
some of his ancestors. 

Before long all his subjects became discon- 
tented. First one of his cousins rebelled, and 
would have usurped his throne had he had his 
wish ; then there were years of cavilling and 

55 



56 Early German History. 

fighting about the province of Lorraine. The 
French wanted it and the Germans would not 
give it up, and as it is the borderland between 
the two countries it was pulled hither and thither 
until at last the Germans became victorious and 
it was left in their possession. 

Then came the old evil — the revolts in Italy, 
while Otto II. had to carry on war in Germany ; 
so no sooner had he done with the Franks than 
he carried a large army across the Alps to settle 
his Italians. Of course they got frightened, for 
they had fancied him far too busily engaged in 
that distant land, Germany, to interfere with them. 
They were not sufficiently strong to oppose Otto's 
powerful army, still they might have been if the 
Arabs had come and helped them, and to the 
Arabs they turned in their distress. On being 
summoned, these renowned horsemen rushed in 
hordes into Italy on their fleet coursers, and 
soon routed Otto's army most completely. It 
was at Basantello, on the shores of the Mediter- 
ranean, and there you might have seen him 
wandering in disguise from place to place, ex- 
pecting every moment to fall in with his power- 
ful enemies. 

At last he spied a Greek vessel, and in it hoped 
to escape without being known; then think of his 
terror when he heard the crew whisper, "That 
is our enemy of enemies, the Emperor Otto ! " 



King Otto IL 57 

and they surrounded him, threatening to make 
him their prisoner. Whatever he may have 
felt, his presence of mind never forsook him, and 
turning to some of them in the most unconcerned 
way told them he was just going to Constanti- 
nople to the Greek Emperor. ''Then we have 
been mistaken/' he heard t'hem whisper; ''if this 
were Otto he surely would not go to his bitterest 
enemy, the Emperor of Greece.'' They molested 
him no further, but he little trusted them, and 
when the boat stopped at a place where he 
knew his empress and her friends to have taken 
refuge, he asked leave to send a boat ashore to 
buy the presents which he meant to take to the 
emperor at Constantinople. As soon as the 
messenger got out of the boat he told the em- 
press of Otto's danger, and some of her friends, 
disguised as skippers, rowed out to the Greek 
vessel and got as close to her as possible. Then 
Otto leapt into the sea and was hauled into the 
boat by his friends, and before the Greeks had 
recovered from their surprise he was safely 
landed amongst his followers. You see it was 
his presence of mind that saved him. 

No sooner did the sad news of the emperor's 
defeat reach Germany than the princes one and 
all stood up to save fair Italy, but poor Otto IL 
died before the enemy could be attacked. He 
was only twenty-eight years old. 







CHAPTER XVI. 

KING OTTO III. 9 S3. 

|TTO II. left but one baby son, whom at 
three years of age they crowned King 
of Italy. But do you think they left 
him and his young mother, Theophania (a 
Greek princess), in peace ? Not they. The Duke 
of Bavaria wanted to be king ; the French again 
wanted the border province of Lorraine. They 
took the dear little baby king away from, his 
poor mother and made her thoroughly unhappy. 
Then the German princes one and all re- 
claimed the boy and made her regent during his 
minority. She did her best, but an early death 
snatched her away, leaving her boy an orphan 
eleven vears old. Now it was his o^rand- 
mother, Queen Adelaide, and the faithful and 
pious Archbishop of Mayence who reigned in 
his stead. The famous Girbert, a very wonder 
of science and learning, became the lad's tutor. 
When scarcely sixteen he was crowned at 
Rome as Otto III., and he enjoyed the pomp 

58 



King Otto IIL 59 

and grandeur of that splendid city so much 
that he meant to make it the capital of his 
realm. Then feeling that the vanities of this 
world were but passing joys and that a pious 
life would be more conducive to his happiness, 
he left Rome in the midst of her festivities, threw 
off his regal attire, and, accompanied by a 
bishop, he spent a fortnight in a cavern praying 
and fasting. 

You would scarcely believe that the Italians, 
so ready to celebrate their king when at Rome, 
would turn upon him as soon as he was gone. 
Born under a hot sun, they are rather a hot- 
headed people ; they like excitement, whether 
of pleasure or pain. They can have festivities 
at one time and a rebellion to follow — and re- 
bellious they became as soon as Otto had re- 
turned to Germany. Had the Germans been as 
fickle as the Italians there would have been an 
end of poor Otto. But no ; they clung faithfully 
to their emperor and helped him to quiet the 
Italians, who promised anew to live as his 
loyal subjects, when the king readily forgave 
them. 

In the year looo after the birth of Christ, 
people were terrified by the appearance of a 
comet. ''Terrified.?" I hear you say, ''why 
terrified.?* Why not be full of admiration for 
that splendid star, with its long tail of myriads 



6o Early German History. 

of smaller stars lighting up the heavens ? One 
of the grandest apparitions of the night ! " You 
are right, and well you might be, for you live 
in an age famous for science and learning. You 
know that astronomers calculate the exact time 
when a comet will become visible to our world ; 
you are not brought up by parents and teachers 
who believe in all sorts of foolish things now 
called superstitions. The Germans, in the year 
A.D. I GOG, did think that the comet was sent as a 
warning of the earth's destruction, and they got 
sadly frightened. 

There happened to be some earthquakes at 
the same time, and they got more frightened 
still. ''What can we do to keep off the impend- 
ing evil," said they. "Suppose we make a pil- 
grimage to some holy place," answered the king ; 
'Met us go to the sepulchre of that holy man, 
Adalbert, who preached Christianity in the far- 
off land of the Poles, and was slain and buried 
there. If we pray to the soul of that pious 
Christian, perhaps he can save us." So off they 
set, the king and many of his subjects, and the 
foundation stone of the church to be built there 
was laid by them. 

On Otto's return to Aix-la-Chapelle, he caused 
the tomb of Charlemagne to be opened. He had 
been buried two hundred years before, and there 
he sat on his throne in full armor, just as they 



King 



Otto II L 



6i 



had buried him. Otto took the cross of gold 
suspended from his neck in the firm belief that 
while he wore it no harm could befall him. That 
was another bit of superstition ; for how could 
a gold ornament protect the king from evil.? 

But, pray, let us forgive Otto III. this and 
many another little weakness of mind, for he was 
only twenty-two years old when he died. They 
buried him at Aix-la-Chapelle. 




CHAPTER XVII. 



KING HENRY II. 



I002. 




E have a Henry again after the three 
Ottos — Henry 11. — rather an unfor- 
tunate king, as his nobles did not care 
for him, and often showed him disrespect, al- 
though they had elected him. 

He had the bad habit of making practical 
jokes. Let me tell you how far he carried them. 
There was a bishop called Meinwerk, whom he 
thought it excellent fun to frighten by writing 
on slips of paper '' Meinwerk, prepare for death, 
for in five days thou must die." Such slips of 
paper the poor man found wherever he went, 
and he indulged in the belief that they came 
straiofht from heaven. What could he do but 
pray and fast and hourly expect his death. But 
the five days passed and there he still was, hale 
and hearty. The emperor on meeting him pre- 
tended to be much surprised at seeing him still 
in the flesh, or, had he died since they met and 
risen again from the dead.? On hearing these 

62 



King Henry IL 63 

words Meinwerk knew who it was that alarmed 
him, but did not show how deeply offended he 
was. 

When, however, a short time after, there was 
some grand celebration in church, the emperor, 
clad in his royal robes with the crown on his 
head, Meinwerk suddenly rose before the as- 
sembly and, in a solemn voice, said : '*I declare 
that the emperor has insulted me, who am a 
servant of Holy Mother Church. The joke which 
he practiced upon me was meant in derision oiher 
dignity. Such a deed merits punishment, and 
I herewith pronounce the sentence of excommu- 
nication upon his refractory head." Do you 
know what that meant? It was awful! No 
church might be entered ; no holy rites of either 
baptism, communion, marriage or death-bed 
prayer performed for the man so sentenced ; he 
was an outcast from his fellows, to be shunned 
and despised. 

Such was the power of the clergy. It was 
great before Henry's accession ; it became in- 
tolerable during his reign, and he now felt too 
weak to oppose it. So what could he do but 
strip himself of his regal attire, put on the garb of 
a penitent, and stand at the church door im- 
ploring the bishops to forgive his sins towards 
Mother Church and once more receive him in 
her bosom. When they thought him sufficiently 



64 



Early German History, 



humbled, and themselves exalted, they again ad- 
mitted him. 

We cannot, I think, feel much compassion for 
an emperor who lacked dignity, first by prac- 
ticing a schoolboy's trick and then by putting up 
with an ignominious punishment. Let us learn 
from that weakness, and if ever we should go to 
Bamberg, let us admire the splendid cathedral 
which he built there, giving all his treasure 
towards its erection. 




CHAPTER XVIII. 



HOW THE GERMANS LIVED EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS AGO. 




REAT changes in the mode of Hfe took 
place about this time. The tradesmen 
had got more clever about their v^ork, 
as each kept to one kind only. The leather 
workers would no longer make both shoes and 
saddles ; the carpenters were divided, some 
taking the coarser work, some the liner, and 
others began to carve ornaments in wood for 
churches. 

As the peasants had not much money when 
they went into town to make purchases, they 
used to bring sacks of corn in exchange for shoes, 
cloth or other necessaries. As to the miller, he 
would grind corn for the baker and take his 
bread for the trouble. If the weaver wanted a 
pair of boots he was ready to provide the shoe- 
maker with a piece of linen for his shirt. This 
was trade by barter, and it was a troublesome 
kind of trade as well as a most arbitrary one ; 
for who could decide the value of the objects to 

65 



66 Early German History. 

be thus exchanged? People soon began to bar- 
ter between the inhabitants of one country and 
another at fixed times. Then the French or 
other foreigners would flock to Germany, bring- 
ing their own wares in exchange for German 
ones. Thus the different nations, their produce 
and their works, became known to each other in 
an interchange which created friendly feelings 
and lessened the desire for ever-recurring wars. 

It was lucky that about this time copper, 
lead and silver were discovered in the Hartz 
Mountains. Those who would be at the trouble 
of digging far into the bowels of the earth 
could soon enrich themselves, for coins were 
now struck from the copper and silver. Money 
began to circulate and barter ceased. So much 
for trade. 

Now as to art, I must tell you that the Italians 
came from their '' land of song," as we call it, 
and oh ! they sang sweetly ! Their melodies 
were much softer than the recitatives of the old 
German bards, and the guitar upon which they 
played to accompany themselves was a great 
improvement upon the ancient harp. The king 
used to love his Italian minstrels, and, indeed, so 
did all his subjects. 

The country could not boast of roads ; travel- 
ers had to find their way through dense forests 
and battle with herds of wild boars, which also 



How the Germans Lived. 6y 

came at night to trample over the fields and de- 
stroy the work of long, weary days. Wild cats, 
bears and wolves there were in plenty, and 
they would devour sheep and cows and devastate 
farmyards ; many a sweet child venturing from 
home fell a prey to these hungry beasts, and as 
you read this you will, I am sure, think of dear 
little Red Ridinghood carrying strawberries to 
her old granny. 

The country people scarcely knew how to sub- 
due the beasts of prey ; they had few weapons 
and did not much understand how to wield 
them ; but the lords and dukes were trained from 
their earliest youth to battle with all sorts of 
enemies, the tribes of rapacious men as well as 
animals. They could fence, throw the spear, 
and run a race on foot as well as on horseback, 
and so did not dread to meet the bear or wolf in 
single combat. If vanquished, it is true, they 
would fall a certain prey to the teeth of the wolf 
or the hug of the bear. But why should they.? 
Would not their axe deal them the deadly blow, 
or their spear wound the prey .? They were as 
sure of success as a schoolboy well up in Greek 
or Latin must be at an examination, while of the 
classics our old Germans were profoundly igno- 
rant. ''Let the monks study," they thought, 
"and let us hunt." So out they were in fair 
weather or foul, and when a bear had been 



68 Early German History. 

killed there was great rejoicing. Its skin made a 
warm garment or coverlet, and its flesh was much 
prized at the feasts and carousings held after the 
hunt. No wonder if they reHshed meat and drink 
after their exertions, and if many a bold knight 
who sat proudly erect at the beginning of the 
meal was found prostrate at the end of it. 

Bad habits are more readily imitated than 
good ones ; so the lower orders would also drink 
and feast in the same way ; and what was worse 
they would chase men instead of animals. 
Hordes of wicked people assembled for wicked 
purposes. The most daring man among them 
was chosen as leader of the band. They lay in 
ambush all day and darted forth in the dark to 
assail the traveler and rob and otherwise ill-treat 
him. These lawless bands seldom met with the 
punishment they so amply deserved. Justice 
was done in a most inefficient way, and this led 
to more evils than one. 

The country people, feeling how much they 
needed the protection of mightier men than 
themselves, chose to place their property as well 
as their families and themselves under some 
bishop or noble. In so doing they gave up all 
liberty of action, for they became followers of 
their protector both in war and peace, and had 
to hold the lands as fiefs that were formerly 
their own. That was a sad change, and sadder 



How the Germans Lived, 69 

still it was for such as had no property, for what 
could they offer their protectors but themselves ? 
So they became their bondsmen or slaves. If a 
nobleman had thus acquired a great deal of 
property and a great many slaves, he thought 
himself equal to the king and did not mind 
rising up against him. And a fearful state of 
things that was ! 

Then there were horrid superstitions. That 
one about the comet which appeared in the year 
1000, of which I have told you, still prevailed ; 
and there was another which entirely prevented 
justice being done as it ought. The judges, in- 
stead of trying to find out whether the accused 
were innocent or guilty, left the decision to the 
most absurd and wicked trials. The two enemies 
were either to fight till one succumbed, when the 
victor was always declared innocent, or the ap- 
parent culprit had to immerse his arm in boiling 
water, or to walk over red-hot ploughshares, 
and if he was neither scalded nor scorched it 
was declared that he had been proved to be in- 
nocent by the judgment of God. Of course the 
victims must have been burnt or injured had 
they not practiced all sorts of tricks to preserve 
their flesh from the pernicious influence of fire 
and water, and thus frustrated the dispensation 
of justice; but the people were for the most part 
ignorant, and so could easily be made fools of. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



EMPEROR CONRAD II. IO24. 




N the year 1024 Conrad was chosen by 
the assembled counts and dukes to be 
king, and a very good choice it was. 
He tried to be just and pleasant even to his 
lowest subjects; and as to the nobles, he made 
a law which put them in full possession of the 
lands which they had hitherto only held as fiefs. 
Of course they were delighted at this change, 
they knew that they and their children would 
now be left in undisturbed possession of the 
property. If they made any improvements so 
much the better for them and theirs ; so hence- 
forth they did make improvements, and became 
much more industrious than they had ever been. 

The king had the finest grape-vines brought 
from France. They were planted on the banks 
of the Rhine and yield to this day the celebrated 
wine of Johannisberg and Riidesheim. 

This good and wise king was most anxious to 
put an end to the wars so common at that time, 

70 



Emperor Conrad I L 71 

and of which I am sure you disHke hearing 
more. So I am glad to tell you that Conrad and 
the bishops decreed there should be no fighting 
from Wednesday evenings to Monday mornings. 
Do you think that this law put a stop to the 
eternal rivalry between the Germans and Italians } 
No, it did not. There were revolts in whichever 
of the two countries the king happened not to be, 
and he had to rush back to call the revolted sub- 
jects to order. 

Other peoples, too, often declared war against 
him ; but he overcame all his enemies, and died 
much honored and beloved by his subjects. His 
grave is still shown in the beautiful cathedral of 
Spires, where he was interred with great pomp 
and deep mourning. 




iTtnTtTiniT iiiii i rrrrr rT-i I iiiii i ii itt r Trri » i i tti iii m iii i-tt- 



CHAPTER XX. 

HENRY III., THE BLACK IO56. 




IS successor was Henry, surnamed '' The 
Black," from his black eyes and hair. 
He was taller than any of his subjects, 
imposing and handsome. He was pious, too, 
saying : ''If God has made me the ruler of a 
great people, I ought to work incessantly for its 
welfare. " That was the right view to take and 
act up to ; the wrong side of his conduct was 
that he thought to please God by suffering the 
ignominious punishment of scourging whenever 
he fancied he had exulted in his greatness or 
worn his golden crown with too much pride. 

The monks and nuns were in those times set- 
ting the example of humility, which, however 
praiseworthy it may be, was carried too far 
when they fancied that fasting, praying, wear- 
ing prickly garments next to their skin, and 
patiently suffering the most painful punishments, 
would find favor with God or serve as an atone- 
ment for sin. God is always merciful, and King 

72 



Henry IIL, the Black, 73 

Henry ought to have known that ; but he was 
only twenty-one years old when he ascended 
the throne and very anxious to fulfill his sacred 
duties. 

These duties were not easy ones. Bohemia 
and Hungary would again try to make war, and 
the nobles would rise in rebellion. Italy, instead 
of being content with its Pope, quarreled with 
him ; and when all the Italians divided into 
three parties, each chose its own Pope. Fine 
doings these were, each of the three Popes wish- 
ing to lay down the law and be obeyed ! The 
wisest thing King Henry could do was to depose 
them one and all and create a German bishop 
Head of the Church, or Pope. 

Those who loved peace were now satisfied, 
whilst the unruly part of the Italian nation re- 
belled, and in the midst of all this hubbub King 
Henry III. died, only forty years old. 







„^;^, „.„,„ 

i.!,<.'.!.!,'.l.!iMiV'.MM,'.'.!.! , 'l.!.U 




fnik^i'i' i 'i'it iaaa 



CHAPTER XXI. 



EMPEROR HENRY IV. IO56. 




HIS dear little boy, Henry IV., was only 
six years old, so his mother, Agnes (a 
French princess), reigned in his stead 
as best she might. But there was no one who 
obeyed or respected her — the clergy did not, 
nor would the nobles — so poor Queen Agnes 
suffered intensely. 

Her dear boy was her only treasure ; for his 
sake she would try to conciliate the nobles, and 
allow the clergy to educate him in their own 
way. " Perhaps," thought she, ''when he be- 
comes older they will bend to his rule ; perhaps 
he will understand how to make them obey, 
which I cannot do." So she continued to bear 
up patiently for his sake. But then fancy her 
distress when a certain bishop, Hanno, formed 
the plan of decoying the boy, then twelve years 
old, away from his mother, that the clergy might 
get him entirely into their power ! The wicked 
plan actually succeeded. 

74 



Emperor Henry IV. 75 

Henry and his tnother lived at Kaiserswerth, ' 
an island on the Rhine. Hanno and his accom- 
plices landed close to their palace, and tempted 
the boy to come and see their boat, which they 
described as a beautiful one ; and when once 
they had him on board they rowed and steered 
away with might and main. The plucky young 
king, who loved his mother and felt that he was 
being taken away from her, jumped into the 
Rhine to swim back again, but he was soon 
caught up by one of the boatmen and taken to 
be immured in the fortified town of Cologne, 
where Hanno kept watch over him. The queen 
w^ell-nigh broke her heart, and what could she 
do but retire into a convent, having neither 
friends nor money to fight against the all-power- 
ful clergy. 

I am sure you feel sorry for her, and so did 
many good men and women of her time, but they 
were too weak to help her. They, as well as 
the queen, could only hope the clergy would be- 
stow every care upon the boy's education ; but 
even there they were mistaken. His young 
mind was corrupted in every way — his talents 
crushed; yet at the early age of fifteen they had 
him proclaimed king of the realm. 

By that time he had learnt not to care for his 
country— not to trouble himself about wise laws 
or the improvement of his subjects. As long as 



^6 Early German History, 

he had plenty of money and could follow all his 
inclinations, whether good or bad, he was con- 
tent to let Bishop Adelbert reign in his stead and 
enrich himself and his friends in the most greedy 
and improper way. 

Later on he had to rue this when a clever 
priest, Hildebrand, became Pope, under the 
name of Gregory VII. The new Pope made a 
series of new laws. He forbid the clergy of his 
own and all future times to marry ; the Church 
was to be their only bride and they were to live 
solely for her honor and glory. The Popes were 
to rule alone — the Emperor of Germany was to 
be driven away from Italy. The Popes alone 
were to appoint the clergy, and no benefices 
were to be had for money. Henry IV. was also 
ordered to come to Italy to atone for his bad 
conduct. 

At this Henry IV. only laughed, but his laugh- 
ter soon ceased when he found himself an out- 
law by command of Pope Gregory VII., when 
the Church would no longer protect him, and 
when almost all the subjects of his wide realm 
refused to obey him. A few German barons re- 
mained faithful to the unfortunate young king ; 
they said: " It is true he has oppressed us and 
brought much trouble upon the land, but he is 
our king and he must have our support, even if 
the Pope quarrels with him/' 



Emperor Henry IV. yy 

His wife also, Queen Bertha, would not leave 
him in his distress ; and yet while he was a 
mighty king he had spurned her from him. You 
will agree that she was good and generous and 
advised him for the best when I tell you that she 
persuaded him to give way to the Pope's com- 
mand and go to Italy and make peace with him. 
She would accompany him, she said, and she 
did so — sustaining him through all the troubles 
of passing the Alps in the depth of winter, and 
through all his wavering thoughts of submission 
or revolt. 

It was a fearful journey — all up and down hill. 
Sometimes when they had climbed a mountain 
top they did not know how to descend again on 
the slippery ice. Then they would spread bulls' 
hides over the ice and allow the queen and her 
ladies to slide down, seated on them. As to the 
horses they had to be dragged down with ropes. 
You may fancy how the poor travelers rejoiced 
on reaching the sunny land of Italy. They never 
doubted that the Pope would be touched'by the 
king's obedience and would hasten to reinstate 
him in all his rights. But he did not do so all at 
once. 



-^|c^:<£<- 






CHAPTER XXII. 



HENRY IV. (concluded) AND HENRY V. 




T is true the emperor's arrival in Italy 
somev^hat frightened the Pope. He 
knew^ there was a strong party that 
hated him because of his severe law^s ; others 
called him a plotter and were anxious to depose 
him, and he feared these might have joined the 
emperor agamst him. There might also be a 
German army following Henry IV.; so why 
not be on the safe side by retiring into the 
stronghold of Canossa ? 

This the Pope accordingly did, and got its 
owner, the Margravine Matilda, to have all the 
entrances to the castle locked and guarded to 
protect him against invasion. No sooner had he 
arrived there than the emperor presented himself 
as a lowly, unprotected penitent. The Pope con- 
descended to have the outer gates opened to 
him, but finding he had no followers, took ad- 
vantage of his misery by keeping him three 
days out barefoot in the snow and ice of the in- 

78 



Henry IV, — Henry V. 79 

ner court, all the while soliciting mercy. When 
at last he was admitted into the inner gate it was 
on condition that a council of all the nobles and 
prelates should decide whether or not the em- 
peror should be reinstated in all his rights ; be- 
sides which he was to promise never to act 
without first asking the Pope's leave and obtain- 
ing his and the nobles' approval. The Pope stipu- 
lated for all these ignominious conditions, which 
he never believed the emperor would subscribe 
to, because he preferred his enmity to his friend- 
ship. The emperor, however, was willing to 
bring about a reconciliation at any price, and for- 
got himself and his dignity in giving promises 
which he could not perform. 

The German princes were disgusted by the 
Pope's cruelty; they resented it for their king and 
the nation at large, and stirred him up to a war 
with Italy. The Pope simply deposed Henry 
and substituted Rodolph as a rival king. Then 
two parties arose in arms, one for Henry and 
one for Rodolph. They were victorious by turns, 
until the battle of Merseburg, near Leipsic, put 
an end to the warfare by Rodolph first losing his 
hand and then his life. 

Merseburg has a splendid cathedral, and if any 
of my readers should ever go to see it they will 
be shown a shrivelled hand, supposed to be that 
of the rival king. 



8o Early German History. 

Poor Henry IV. had no end of enemies, his 
own sins and iniquities not being among the 
least of them ; but it was cruel that even his 
two sons should rebel against him, and when the 
elder died and Conrad followed him to the 
grave it was thought a happy release. His 
bitterest enemy. Pope Gregory VIL, had died 
before him, and it was now too late to amend all 
the ills they had done to one another. 

The reign of Henry V. began in 1106, and 
lasted nineteen years. Much good might have 
been done during that time which I should be 
glad to tell you of, but alas ! there is only the 
old contention between Pope and Emperor to 
relate. Each wanted to wrest the power from 
the other, and not being able to secure it in a 
friendly way, went to war. Indeed it was 
not till the year before the death of Henry V. 
that they did what they ought to have done at 
first — they agreed to divide the power. The 
Pope was to elect the bishops and rule over all 
the clergy, and the emperor was to distribute 
the fiefs to the nobles and exercise sovereign 
power over them. The people rejoiced at this 
treaty, which was concluded in 1122, in the 
town of Worms. 

Henry V. died in 1125, and with him ended 
the Franconian race of kings, which had reigned 
for a hundred and one years. 



CHAPTER XXIIL 



HOW THE GERMANS LIVED SIX OR SEVEN HUNDRED 
YEARS AGO. 



m 




Y young readers have traveled with me 
so many times backw^ards and forwards 
between Germany and Italy, that I 
think it but fair they should know a little about 
the difference in the worship, aspect and mode 
of life of these two countries. 

Rome, the capital of Italy, had many splendid 
buildings, such as the Lateran Church, in which 
the Pope and bishops officiated, dressed in sump- 
tuous robes. There were splendid chants sung 
by well-trained choristers with young and sono- 
rous voices, whilst other boys, as luxuriously 
robed, used to swing vessels of incense about 
the church and altar which spread a sweet- 
scented and almost intoxicating vapor around 
while the congregation were devoutly kneeling 
and listening to mass or prayers. Rome was a 
sunny place, and Italy the cradle of art and 
poetry at a time when other countries were 
scarcely emancipated from rude and barbarous 

8i 



82 Early German History. 

customs. The houses of Rome were all built 
with fiat roofs on which the inmates sat in the 
warm evenings for fresh air. Parents and chil- 
dren ahke flocked round the narrator of stories 
or the guitar player, who would accompany him- 
self in some lovely song while his mellow voice 
resounded in the sweet accents of the Italian 
tongue. There was many an idle lounger among 
the hsteners,many a one who had never cared to 
work, who lazily dragged on his existence in 
that hot and fertile country that yielded ample 
means for moderate wants without exertion or 
labor. 

The German ways were quite different. The 
country is cold, the winds are piercing and there 
are many months of snow and ice. There was 
no lounging on flat roofs in Germany ; indeed, 
the roofs had pointed gables and sloping sides, 
that the snow might not lodge on them and that 
the rain might run off them down into the 
wintry streets. The schoolboys used to revel, I 
suppose, in the puddles formed by want of 
drainage, which in our days would be a rare 
occurrence ; but then, as now, there would be 
snow balls thrown, and the pelting to and fro 
would make merry the boys of those ancient 
times. In Germany the cold is so lasting that 
the snow bears moulding into a human figure, 
two bits of coal are stuck into the cavity of the 



How the Germans Lived, 83 

eyes, and oh ! who can describe the boys' de- 
light at such a weli-shaped snow man, stick in 
hand as though he were placed on guard ? 

In Westphalia, we still find farmhouses sup- 
posed to be built like those of the olden times. 
You see a single large building with a mighty 
roof, and an entrance wide enough for a 
wagon loaded with corn to drive in. The floor 
is made of solid-beaten earth, the animals oc- 
cupy roomy stalls near the entrance, while the 
fowls roost above. They have a comfortable out- 
let, and so have the cats, of which there is no 
lack. The rooms for the spinning and weaving 
maids and other domestic servants are below 
those of the family, who, on opening small 
wooden casements, can watch, even from their 
beds, over the well-doing of the cattle and the 
industry and good conduct of the household, and 
above all the punctuality in preparing the meals. 
The peasants assembled in winter round the 
large fire-place in the middle of the entrance-hall, 
and, in either summer or winter took their meals 
there. They burnt wood, of which there was 
plenty for felling, and they used to hang up hams 
and flitches ofbacon, and sausages, to be smoked 
in the chimneys. Later on, as commerce in- 
creased, the heavily-laden wagons entering the 
house carried merchandise instead of corn. 

All this gives a picture of peace and comfort ; 



84 Early German History. 

but the truth will out, and so I must acknowl- 
edge that these early towns also had their bloody 
strife. ''-J^ territory," and ''your ground," 
were often fought about, so that it was but wise 
to keep the enemy at arm's length, which could 
be done in no better way than by turning the 
roofs of dwelling-houses into some sort of strong- 
holds. Small towers were built, fenced in by 
walls, and small openings above were made 
through which molten lead and boiling pitch 
could be poured down on the heads of the assail- 
ants, whilst the men inside the tower were safe 
behind their sheltering walls. These holes were 
called ''pitch-noses'' {Puchnasen)^ and we, of 
course, must look upon such a mode of warfare 
as execrable. 

In the time of Charlemagne even palaces were 
built of wood, the roof being thatched. Later on, 
the basement story at least was made of stone, 
the wooden first floor overhanging it, which 
created a sort of gallery called '' Laube.'* 
Neighbors could have many a chat in these 
arcades and yet be sheltered from the intemper- 
ance of the cHmate. They soon found out that 
wood was an excellent material for warming the 
only room of the house provided with a fireplace 
in which the family congregated, but that it often 
proved dangerous for building walls ; stone and 
brick and slate roofs affording a better security 



How the Germans Lived, 85 

against conflagrations, was used instead. The 
principal house formed one side of a square, 
the accessory buildings the other three sides, 
and the space in the middle was the courtyard. 
A gallery ran round the top rooms and served 
as a communication between them. 

Candles of any kind there were none, and 
when they found the firelight all too dreary they 
lit a piece of pinewood and stuck it into a hole 
in the wall. When oil lamps, tallow and wax- 
lights were invented, they could only be used as 
luxuries by the rich. If visitors were expected, 
they would clear out the straw which covered 
the clay floor and renew it ; and the grandees 
tried to hide their whitewashed walls by hang- 
ing embroidered cloths over them. As to paper- 
hanging, that was not invented, but then, as now, 
there would be a shelf running round the wall 
to hold and show off the treasures in metal 
tankards, dishes, etc. The cuirass, helmet and 
shield of the lord and master hung upon the 
wall, and were considered the chief ornament. 

The gallery for the musicians at feasts was not 
forgotten, but their chief attention on such occa- 
sions was devoted to their dress. Men were not 
content, as they are now, with a plain, black suit; 
they wanted to outdo each other in fanciful cloth- 
ing. There were coats embroidered and scal- 
loped ; the sleeves were sometimes very wide, 



86 



Early German History. 



axid at other times slashed and trimmed in vari- 
ous colors. The trousers were as wide as those 
of our clowns, and the shoes were so peaked 
that they seemed to have robbed the birds of 
their long beaks. So much for the men. 

As for the women, they would deck themselves 
with colored embroideries and impossible head- 
dresses, and the grander they wished to appear 
the longer was their train, carried by one or two 
handmaidens or pages. Both men and women 
wore belts ; the former carried a dagger in theirs, 
the latter carried the more peaceable bunch of 
keys. The hair of the women was plaited and 
allowed to hang down in its full length ; while 
the men wore the hair curtailed, but not short, 
for long hair was considered a mark of dignity. 



I 




CHAPTER XXIV. 



FIRST CRUSADE. 




COULD go on telling you more about the 
Germans of fully seven hundred years 
ago, but we have come to a point in 
history so new and so noteworthy that I would 
rather turn to that I want to take you into a 
new country, among a new set of people, in- 
stead of asking you to trace and re-trace your 
steps betw^een Germany and Italy, which I have 
been obliged to do so many times. 

You must now fancy yourselves in the beauti- 
ful old town of Clermont, in France. There is a 
glorious sight to be seen — an assembly of princes 
and nobles, on a wide common just outside the 
gates. They are clad in shining armor, and the 
plumes of their bright helmets are waving in the 
sunshine. Their horses, too, are decked with 
plumes and costly saddle-cloths, but the riders, 
although mounted, do not move on ; their sole 
purpose seems to be to sit still and let the glar- 
ing sun play upon their steel armor and lend it 

87 



88 Early German History, 

new splendor. Behind them you see hundreds 
and thousands of men and women ; the rich 
burghers of Clermont and many other French 
towns, with their wives and daughters and sons, 
and also artisans and laborers, and the poor and 
sick are not wanting. The lame and the blind 
mix in the crowd; the aged folk are supported by 
their younger relations, and children are held up 
in the arms of their mothers to catch sight of an 
old man in a plain brown garment, and a cross 
upon his breast, who is standing alone in a 
cleared space of the crowded avenue. 

He speaks, and every one listens attentively ; 
and after a while nobles and burghers and arti- 
sans, and even the sick and the cripples, call out 
in chorus, ^'No! that shall never be ! One and 
all must go forth to the Holy Land and deliver 
it from the infidel." The man who has thus 
stirred up this large concourse of people is Peter 
of Amiens, or Peter the Hermit. He had lived 
many a year in a lonely hut, fasting and praying, 
and feeding upon herbs only. Then he thought 
he would like to see the Holy Land, where his 
Saviour had lived and been crucified ; so he and 
many followers set off for Palestine. When they 
reached it, after a toilsome journey, they hoped 
to find out where the Saviours manger had 
stood, and where his short life had shed its 
blessings, and where the crime of his crucifixion 



First Crusade, 89 

had been perpetrated. But the Turks were pos- 
sessors of the land and threw every obstacle in 
their way. They not only laughed them to scorn, 
but when, after much entreaty, the poor pilgrims 
were permitted to enter the holy sites, it was in 
exchange for the few clothes and little money 
they possessed. No wonder, then, that many of 
them died of hunger and sickness. 

The few who returned to their native country 
with Peter the Hermit were full of complaints, 
but he himself did not speak about his grievances, 
but resolved instead to do away with them. 
He wrote to the Pope, stirring him up to wage 
war against the barbarous Turks. Urban II. 
fully entered into his views. 

Peter next invited all those assembled at 
Clermont to come and deHver the Holy Sepul- 
chre. ''All those who follow me," said the en- 
thusiastic preacher, ''will go straight to Heaven ; 
their sins will be forgiven ; they will enjoy ever- 
lasting bliss should they succeed in wresting 
the Holy Sepulchre from the infidels. Never 
will they have achieved a greater aim ! Come 
forth, everyone, young or old, all who can bear 
weapons, come !" Thus preached not only Peter, 
but, at his instigation. Pope Urban, too, and 
when they ceased, a general cry broke out in 
the large assembly on Clermont plain — " We will 
do as you bid us ; we will go to Jerusalem and 



90 Early German History. 

expel the Turks. Give us the cross, we will 
wear it with you, and with you we will fight. 
God wills it. " And with this war-cry hundreds 
and thousands left their homes and families. 
They came not only from France, but from Eng- 
land, Italy and Germany ; some to fight, others to 
make atonement for their sins, in the Holy Land. 
I am sorry to say that not all who joined this 
Crusade were worthy men, for such as were too 
lazy to work, and hved by shift and plunder, 
thought they might carry on their wicked ways 
more easily in a barbarous country, and wanted 
to join the Crusaders. Peter the Hermit knew 
them well, and only admitted them upon a prom- 
ise that they would be ruled by him in all things. 
They consented readily enough, but did not act up 
to their promise, for as soon as they reached Hun- 
gary, through which the army had to pass, they 
began stealing and plundering. The king of the 
country attacked and routed them thoroughly, 
and but few reached the Holy Land. The vali- 
ant Duke of Lorraine, Godfrey of Bouillon, how- 
ever, had no sooner become leader of the army 
than he passed a strict law against all stealing 
and plundering ; and having assured the kings 
and princes through whose countries the army 
had to pass that under him no ravages what- 
ever would be committed, they allowed the 
Crusaders a free passage. 



First Crusade. 91 

Godfrey of Bouillon was the very man to lead 
a crusade. He was of imposing height and 
looked a hero when mounted on his war-horse 
and clad in bright armor. No hardship could rob 
him of his courage or endurance, yet there was 
many a hardship before him — bad roads, badly- 
built vessels, excessive heat and parching drought, 
and, but too often, want of provisions. But neither 
fatigue nor hunger could quell the ardor of this 
army. Their leader bore every privation cheer- 
fully, and why should not they also ? So with 
him they repeated their war-cry, ''God wills it!" 
and marched on bravely until they reached the 
Holy Land. 

Duke Baldwin of Flanders, brother to Godfrey 
of Bouillon, was the first among the host of 
dukes and princes to lay siege to a Turkish town, 
Edessa, and having conquered it he converted it 
into a German principality, the first in the Holy 
Land. Antioch fell next, in spite of its four hun- 
dred and fifty mural towers, a gate having been 
opened in the night to the besiegers by a Chris- 
tian residing in the town. 

Of course Jerusalem was still their chief goal, 
and when at last they saw it in the distance 
many fell down on their knees, offering fervent 
thanksgivings and shedding tears of joy. Little 
did they at that moment think of the difficulties 
they would have to encounter, first in forcing 



92 Early German History, 

admittance into a town guarded by such high 
walls, and then in fighting the enemy inside it. 
But they were brave and determined to attain 
their object. 

All the methods they tried have become use- 
less since the invention of gunpowder, but I 
think you will like to hear about them for 
curiosity's sake. The easiest way was to bore 
holes in the walls so big that armed men could 
creep through, but that was a slow process, and 
the Turks frustrated it by their vigilance. After 
many fruitless trials they used battering rams, 
so called because a ram's head, made of iron 
and fastened to a long pole, was driven with 
might and main against the wall and sure to 
hatter part of it to pieces. They also had towers 
as high as the walls, carrying soldiers inside, 
and when these were pushed up close the soldiers 
tried to get into the besieged towns by means of 
ladders. But they sustained great loss from the 
scimitars of the Turks, who, as you may imagine, 
gave them anything but a friendly welcome. 

This siege of Jerusalem has been described at 
full length by many celebrated authors, but by 
none more amply and beautifully than by the 
Italian poet, Torquato Tasso, whose famous 
poem, **La Gerusalemme Liberata," you will 
no doubt read some years hence. I can only 
hint at the valor displayed by the Crusaders, and 



First Crusade. 93 

tell you that after great losses and much blood- 
shed they succeeded at last in kneeling at the 
Holy Sepulchre. They had reason, indeed, to 
offer thanksgivings for having overcome storms, 
heat, hunger, thirst and deadly weapons. It is 
delightful to think of them praying in safety in 
that holy place, and we could wish them to rest 
there awhile ; but their leaders felt they were in 
nowise safe; for they knew the Turks had sought 
assistance from the Egyptians, who might, per- 
haps, at any moment arrive to expel the Cru- 
saders. 

They consulted as to the best means to prevent 
this, and agreed to choose a king who should 
watch over their interests, and whose faithful 
followers they promised to become. Their mode 
of choosing that king was a curious one. They 
assembled the retainers of all their dukes, nobles 
and princes, and questioned them about their 
lords. Were they wise, just and clever.? Would 
they reign impartially ? The men who served 
under them ought to know, and, indeed, they 
all spoke their mind, and it was found that God- 
frey of Bouillon was more beloved and respected 
than any other leader. So he was elected king, 
and they were going to proclaim their choice in 
Jerusalem when Godfrey stopped them. *' How 
could I wear a golden crown," said he, ''in a 
place where my Saviour had to wear one of 



94 Early German History, 

thorns ? How be honored by the title of king 
where He, as a menial, had to carry His cross ? 
Let me be protector instead/' And a protector 
he became to the Christians of Jerusalern, reign- 
ing with firmness, justice and wisdom until, after 
one year only, he was snatched away by death. 

His brother Baldwin, and after him a cousin 
of the same name, succeeded. But they could 
none of them keep off the Turks, who constantly 
tried to get rid of the hated Christians. Not the 
townsmen only, but all the country, rose up 
against them ; and when they traveled forth, 
armed Turks started from behind some lofty 
mountain to attack and rob or murder them. 
The holy pilgrims, who would brave any priva- 
tion to kneel at the blessed shrine, the sinners 
who hoped to atone for their guilt by toiling all 
the way to Jerusalem, were often killed when 
in sight of their goal. This induced some pious 
Christians to devote their life to the welfare of 
poor pilgrims. They chose a knight for their 
leader, and called themselves the Knights of St. 
John, after John the Baptist. 

Like the monks, they promised to remain 
single, and to do all the good in their power. 
Their badge was a white cross on a black mantle. 
They lived together in a large house, came forth 
to protect Christian travelers, nursed the sick, 
and ministered to the dying. Soon the order of 



First Crusade. 95 

the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem became 
known all over Europe, and numbers of pious 
men joined so benevolent an institution. Money 
and gifts of all kinds were sent them from differ- 
ent countries, furnishing them with ample means 
to carry out their Christian purposes. 

There was another order, called the Knights 
Templars, because their house stood on the site 
of Solomon's temple. They were poor in the 
outset, and not able to keep more than one horse 
for two knights, but they rose to be rich and 
mighty. They wore white mantles with a red 
cross. They, too, used to protect pilgrims. 

Both the Templars and Knights of St. John 
assisted King Baldwin in times of peace and 
war, so that he became even more powerful 
than Godfrey had been. 







'«TYttt>Tii i iiiMiiiii>iitiuiiiiiiijajuLiJLLiJtiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil i iKJ xxx3 



CHAPTER XXV 




KNIGHTS IN THE OLDEN TIMES. 

UT let US return to Europe. There, to6, 
we shall meet with many knights. 
They did not belong to either of the 
two orders, but had come to an understanding 
amounting to a law to use their arms for the 
protection of the weak and poor against tyranny 
or depredation. 

I told you there were highwaymen in those 
disorderly times, who waylaid travelers, robbed 
and ill-treated them, carried off the weak and 
aged, and kidnapped young, helpless girls ; and 
when their prisoners were once immured in their 
strongholds, they were only restored to their 
friends upon payment of exhorbitant sums of 
money called ransom. The knights made it 
their business to wage war against such wicked- 
ness, and they often succeeded in liberating the 
poor captives, or protecting widows and children 
threatened by robbers and persecutors. 

When the sons of knights were about twelve 

96 



Knights in the Olden Times. 97 

years old, they were dressed in silks and satins, 
with waving plumes in their bonnets, and were 
sent to some king or queen, who made them their 
pages. The page had to bear the train of his 
lady-queen ; sing sweet songs to her, accom- 
panied on his lute ; stand behind her chair at 
meals, always ready to execute her commands ; 
and follow her in the hunt, bearing a tame falcon 
on his hand. 

It was the custom to have these birds of prey 
trained by men named falconers, so that each 
bird, instead of feasting upon his natural enemy, 
the heron, would pursue him to a dazzling 
height, then bring him down uninjured and de- 
liver him up to the falconer, who in his turn 
presented him to a knight. As each knight had 
a lady-love whom he protected at all times and 
as a matter of course followed in the chase, it 
was at her feet the prey was ultimately laid, 
whilst she bent down to reward him by gracious 
looks. It must have been a grand sight, now 
only to be seen on the stage, when ladies went 
out hunting mounted on splendidly caparisoned 
palfreys, each having her own knight at her 
side, who wore the scarf she had embroidered 
for him, and both of them adorned in the color 
she had chosen, pages and retainers following. 
It must have been an exciting moment, too, 
when the falcon, brought with a blinding hood 



98 Early German History. 

over his head, was restored to sight by the 
falconer's removing it, and, on being given his 
hberty, was seen to dart upwards, anxiously 
watched by the hunters till out of sight. . But I 
own I am not an admirer of such sports, and 
much prefer thinking of the pages and their 
sweet songs, and in so doing I am reminded of 
Mendelssohn's lovely song, *'Wenn die Sonne 
lieblich schiene/' It is about a page who wan- 
ders about, lute in hand, sighing for ''the sun- 
shine of dear Italy. " If your mother, sister or 
friend would sing it for you, then think of the 
great composer who created your enjoyment. 

There were also splendid tournaments in those 
days, carried on in a spacious arena by these 
knights, who fought against each other in single 
combat until one of them had been unhorsed. 
Then only were the closed visors lifted which had 
concealed their faces ; and then also the victor 
ascended to the gallery above the arena, where 
the court and fair ladies sat, to receive the laurel 
wreath from the hands of his lady-love— a tri- 
umph which often cost his adversary's life. 

Sometimes wild beasts would be allowed to 
fight each other in the arena, and this is the 
subject of a beautiful poem by Schiller. In the 
poem, a lady, as exacting as cruel, incites her 
knight to go and fetch her glove, which she 
throws from the gallery right into the arena 



Knights in the Olden Times. 



99 



between the raging beasts, telling him it will 
be a proof of his love, which he has ardently- 
professed for her, and that if he succeeds she 
will return his affection. He bows assent, ven- 
tures to step in between the fierce combatants, 
and secures the glove, which he presents to the 
lady, and then turns from her in disgust as she 
is going to thank him and reward him by 
granting his suit to her, saying, '' No thanks 
from you, lady ! " and leaves her forever. 

Let us rejoice in our more humane tastes, and 
hope that the last vestiges of barbarous customs, 
such as the bull-fights in Spain and the cock- 
fights in England, may soon cease to be tolerated 
in our nineteenth century. 



i i iiiiiii i i i ^iiiii iLJUXXi^ i l iTTT^ 




CHAPTER XXVI. 



EMPEROR CONRAD III. 




TOLD you that at Henry V/s death 
the race of Franconian kings had 
become extinct, but although there 
were no direct heirs, he left two nephews, 
who both of them tried to obtain the crown. The 
bishops, however, managed to set them aside, 
and it was they who elected Lothair because 
he was ready to obey them and the Pope. 
Of course the emperor's nephews resented this, 
and made war upon Lothair. He was not strong 
enough to resist them alone, and so he managed 
to get the Guelph prince, Henry the Proud, of 
Bavaria, to become his ally. 

This great prince, finding himself at Lothair's 
death in possession of half the German terri- 
tories, seemed to be the natural heir to the 
crown ; but he never got it, for Conrad of Hohen- 
staufen, his mightiest enemy, was chosen in his 
stead. Of course there was more war, and I 
think I might pass it over in silence had I not 

100 



Emperor Conrad III, loi 

to tell you of a curious thing which happened in 
the course of it. 

King Conrad besieged the town of Weinsberg, 
in Bavaria, until the garrison was dying of 
famine. In this extremity they offered to sur- 
render provided they might pass out unmolested. 
''Not so/' said the King; ''they have been too 
long opposing me. I shall teach the men a 
hard lesson, but the women may pass out, and 
I will even allow each of them to bring away 
her most valued ornament." This said, the 
gates were opened, and all the women passed 
out, carrying — what do you think.? oh ! you will 
never guess — their husbands ! They vowed, 
one and all, that these were their most valued 
ornaments ; so they took them, by the King's 
permission, carrying them on their backs. Had 
the men remained behind, they would certainly 
have been slaughtered. As it was, the King 
could not help laughing at the clever idea of the 
women, and admiring the devotion they showed 
for their husbands. For their sakes he forgave 
the others, and reinstated the town in its former 
rights. Since then the proverb calls all devoted 
wives "the women of Weinsberg," and its 
castle, ' ' Woman's faith. " 

After this there was a certain Henry the Lion, 
and another valiant prince named Albrecht, who 
contended for the crown. Albrecht was crowned. 



102 Early Ger7na7i History. 

and became possessed of Brandenburg and the 
country beyond the Oder, which his brave suc- 
cessors colonized with Germans, and, from a 
barbarous, Sclavonic country, turned it into a 
civilized, German one, speaking the German 
language. 

You remember that I told you all about the 
bravery of the Crusaders, and you may fancy 
them by this time in the quiet possession of the 
holy sites ; but, alas ! this was not the case. 
Europe resounded again with the fatal news that 
the Mahometans were trying to re-conquer Jeru- 
salem, and that the Christians were hard pressed 
by them. Who would come and relieve them } 
Then King Conrad, reigning in Germany, has- 
tened to obey their summons, and so did the 
King of France. Although in the depth of win- 
ter, they set out with their armies to try and de- 
liver their Christian brethren from the Moslem 
yoke. They did not stop to think of their priva- 
tions in quitting their homes and families at 
Christmas time, nor did they mind the hardships 
they encountered in Greece. They reached it 
in the rainy season, and had to contend with 
the floods occasioned by it. The Greeks hated 
the poor Crusaders, but pretended to furnish 
them with shelter and clothing and food, while, 
in reality, they rejoiced to see them starving 
and devoid of all necessaries. They were on 



Emperor Conrad III. 103 

the side of the Turks, and did not want them 
ever to reach Jerusalem. ^^Let them perish on 
the road," was their one thought, and, to bring 
this about, they sent them bad provisions, and 
gave them false money, for which nobody would 
sell them good bread. The climate, too, was 
very injurious to them, the more so as they were 
often obliged to camp out, and when they 
thought of moving on to seek shelter elsewhere, 
they were shown the wrong road. 

Not even the Christians residing in Greece 
would assist the poor Crusaders, because they 
considered the occupation of the country by 
such large numbers of foreigners raised the 
prices of provisions, which they resented. When, 
added to all this, an eclipse of the sun happened 
to take place at that very time, the soldiers were 
seized with a panic, and entreated their leaders 
to let them return home. You remember how 
superstitious people had been about the comet 
from sheer ignorance. They knew quite as little 
about the earth in its rotation, and the natural 
occurrence of the moon coming between it 
and the sun, thus depriving the earth for a 
short time of the sun's rays. They would have 
it that the darkness in mid-day was a sure sign 
of evil, and became more and more clamorous 
for their return. But their leaders would not 
hear of it, and they had to go on again. 



104 



Early German History, 



When they had got to Damascus and Ascalon, 
in Syria, the greatest of all misfortunes befell 
them. Their leaders began to quarrel with each 
other, and strife became the cause of their return. 
Strife, that bitterest enemy of mankind, brought 
about what neither privations nor superstition 
could do, and the armies turned back without 
having delivered the Christians of Jerusalem. 

Soon after, in the year 1152, the Emperor 
Conrad died. 




CHAPTER XXVII. 



EMPEROR FREDERICK BARBAROSSA 1 1 52, 




T is now my pleasant task to tell you 
about the next king, Frederick of Sua- 
bia, a nephew of King Conrad, and 
the second prince of the Hohenstaufen line. 

He was a fine man, tall and stately, and quite 
a German, with his fair hair and blue eyes, and 
his beard with a tinge of red in it, which gave 
him the title of Frederick the Redbeard, or, in 
Italian, Barbarossa. But never mind about his 
looks or his name. He was good and just, and 
loved better to act with leniency than to show 
himself severe ; and he had plenty of firmness 
when opposed to the priests, whom he honored 
as they deserved, but did not allow to interfere 
with state matters. 

He wished, above all, to have no more fight- 
ing among the German barons ; so the first thing 
he did was to reinstate into his duchies of Sax- 
ony and Bavaria, Henry the Lion, the Guelph, 
whose friend, Albrechtthe Bear, thus became his 

105 



io6 Early Ger7nan History, 

strongest ally, and assisted him in subjugating and 
civilizing the Slavs in Mecklenburg and Pomerania. 

The Italian subjects of Barbarossa were far 
more troublesome. Milan had become a rich 
and flourishing town, and wanted to assert its 
independence instead of being ruled by the Ger- 
man emperor ; so it got all the Italian towns to 
form a league against him, declaring that they 
would rule themselves. But little did this suit 
the intrepid Barbarossa, against whom the almost 
impregnable walls of the cities were kept closed. 
He was repelled five times from Milan, but the 
sixth time he entered it in triumph. ''You shall 
rue your rebellion," said he; ''I will see you 
stripped of your fine velvet garments ; and in- 
stead of the gold chains you are wont to wear, 
you shall have a cord round your necks, and 
thus humbled you shall kneel barefoot before me." 

When matters had come to such a pass they 
appeared before him, contrite and entreating 
pardon. He readily granted it upon their 
promise of receiving him in future in all 
their towns Hke good and loving subjects, 
and placing the iron crown upon his head. 
This crown was so called from having an 
iron band riveted in it, said to be made from 
a nail taken from the cross of Jesus Christ ; 
it was always kept in Milan, and the kings of 
Lombardy were crowned with it. The meeting 



Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. 107 

with the Milanese burghers ended by the em- 
peror's embracing some of them, who wept bit- 
terly and showed every sign of repentance. 

On returning to Germany, Frederick and his 
army had to pass some narrow mountain gorges, 
where a stronghold of the wild Alberich of Ve- 
rona impeded their progress. He not only had 
them pelted with stones, but demanded a heavy 
tribute from horses, knights and the king him- 
self. Frederick, in his wrath at such shameful 
conduct, deputed the brave Count Otto Von 
V/ittelsbach to avenge the insult. Nothing loth, 
the count took two hundred picked men and 
clambered up a rock commanding the strong 
castle, thus taking the enemy by surprise. He 
killed most of the inmates of the castle, including 
Count Alberich of Verona himself. 

Would you believe that the Milanese revolted 
again as soon as they knew that Frederick was 
safely lodged in h'S German dominions ? Little 
did they think that he would be so prompt in 
punishmg them as he did. He hastened back to 
Milan with a powerful army and destroyed that 
splendid city, leveling its walls to the earth. As 
soon as he had done this he went on his way 
back to Germany. On passing through the town 
of Susa, the citizens, who hated their German 
king, made a plot against him. The house in 
which he meant to sleep was to be guarded on 



lo8 Early Germafi History. 

all sides and the king murdered in his bed. 
When the landlord heard of this, his conscience 
moved him to reveal the plot to some of the Ger- 
man knights, one of whom prevailed upon the 
king, after many fruitless entreaties, to flee in 
disguise and leave him in his stead ; for this 
knight, Hartmann of Liebeneichen, somewhat 
resembled the king in size and figure. At dawn 
of day, when a murderous band penetrated into 
the king's bedroom, the knight started up ready to 
defend his life. The assassins, finding out their 
mistake, were much moved by the conduct of 
the faithful Hartmann, and they allowed him to 
pass unhurt and rejoin his sovereign, which, as 
you may fancy, he was not slow in doing. 

In the year 1183 there was a grand peace- 
making at Constance with the Italian towns, the 
Pope and some of the German barons. Those 
troublesome bandits, too, of whom I told you, 
lived to see many of their castles pulled down, 
and when they had lost those convenient places 
of concealment they did not know where to 
hide their illegal gains or escape the vigilance of 
their persecutors ; so they had to give up, at 
least in some degree, the shameful trade of 
rapine and plunder. 

Many of the barons wished to take a pattern 
from the great emperor, Barbarossa, and rule their 
own subjects as wisely as he did, but they had 



Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, 109 

to learn many a lesson ere they succeeded. One 
of them, Ludwig, Margrave of Thuringia, al- 
though brought up at the imperial court, had even 
to stoop before his own blacksmith to be taught 
right and wrong. The Margrave had lost his 
way and all his retinue, while hunting, and was 
but too glad to turn into a smithy some distance 
from his castle, where he slept soundly all night, 
thankful that he was not obliged to camp out. 
Next morning, while still in bed, he heard the 
smith hammering away and at the same 
time singing out, " Lu ! grow hard ! Lu ! grow 
hard!" 

''What do you mean.?" called out Ludwig, 
who could not help recognizing his own name 
in the abbreviation. ''I mean," said the smith, 
''that you should harden yourself against your 
nobles, instead of going about hunting and 
amusing yourseli while they ill-treat your people. 
Do you not allow them to harness men to their 
plows instead of beasts 1 and to make the peas- 
ants work for them like slaves, without paying 
them for their labor t Harden yourself against 
these and many other shameful practices, and 
your people will love you." The margrave 
could not help feeling the truth of what the 
smith ventured to say, and, being a just man, he 
cast off his habitual indolence, and set about 
punishing his wicked nobles. This gave Kim 



no Early German History, 

henceforth the surname of the '' Iron" Ludwig, 
beloved and praised by his people. 

You may see this story, as well as many 
others related about Thuringia, illustrated in 
mural paintings by a famous German artist, 
Schwind, in that celebrated old castle called the 
Wartburg. It is not only celebrated for its 
paintings, but also for being the place where 
Martin Luther lived while translating the Bible. 
It is said that the devil came to disturb him 
while writing, but that he was not frightened at 
the apparition, and threw^ his inkstand at him. 
This left a black mark on the wall, shown ever 
after to the visitors to the ancient building. I 
told you it would be most interesting to view 
the old senate-house at Frankfurt, with its mural 
paintings representing the German emperors, but 
I think the Wartburg castle would please and 
interest you still more. It lies on a hill close 
to the town of Eisenach, and I can fancy your 
ascending it in half an hour, as I have done 
many a time. It is a lovely road, with splendid 
views, and when you have reached the top, you 
overlook a beautiful country on every side. 

The Wartburg castle is partly ancient and 
partly modern, but the Grand Duke of Weimar, 
to whom it belongs, and who has added new 
wings to it, has aimed at their being built in the 
old style, and has partly succeeded. 




CHAPTER XXyilL 

BARBAROSSA AND THE CRUSADERS. 

UT do not at present stop in Thuringia, 
admiring the Wartburg. You must 
follow me to Mayence, where King 
Barbarossa and his queen, Beatrix, were giving 
an entertainment of unexampled splendor, to 
their nobles as well as to their people. It 
was in the year 1184, at Whitsuntide, when 
all Gods creation, resplendent with sunshine, 
stood decked in its gayest colors, when 
there were green fields, running brooks, birds 
singing, and flowers in full bloom. "Let 
us vie with them," said the emperor to his 
queen ; " let us, too, array ourselves in the gay- 
est colors, and let tents be erected for guests 
from all parts of the world. " 

Accordingly, a whole city of tents sprung up 
outside the walls, and ere long they were filled 
with the imperial relatives, and with archbishops 
and bishops from foreign parts. Hundreds and 
thousands of knights and ladies arrived ; choice 



III 



112 Early German History. 

wines flowed from row^s of casks, and tables 
were spread with the most costly viands. The 
people danced and made merry in the streets or 
the green fields, and the wine freely . offered 
them enhanced their pleasure. The emperor 
was revered by everyone, and the empress al- 
most worshiped for her kindness and amiability; 
but their five sons carried everything before them 
when they vied with their father (then in his 
sixty-fourth year) in leading the games praised 
by knighthood, or showing off their skill in 
horsemanship on their powerful and spirited 
steeds. It was a noble sight and a noble feast, 
but it passed, like all human things, and what 
followed was far from pleasant. 

The Christians of Jerusalem were neglecting 
all their duties, and seemed to forget theirs was 
a sacred charge, living, as they did, in a holy 
city, and being entrusted with the guarding of 
the most Holy Sepulchre. Sultan Saladin, a 
wise, just and learned man, was ruling over the 
Moslems, and, seeing the ill-conduct of the 
Christians, he thought the right moment for re- 
conquering his country had arrived. He expelled 
the Christians without much trouble, and was 
again in possession of the holy sites, when 
Frederick Barbarossa left his eldest son to rule 
in Germany, and, although seventy years old, 
arrived in the Holy Land to teach Saladin 



Barbarossa and the Crusaders, 113 

better. Little did he mind the fatigues of another 
Crusade, accompanied by his son Henry and the 
kings of France and England. 

Old Barbarossa soon fought the Saracens with 
undaunted courage, and, instead of paying three 
hundred weight of gold to the enemy to liberate 
the Christians, he became so dreaded that Sala- 
din offered to make peace. Yet one object had 
not been attained ; he had not reached Jerusa- 
lem, and he thought that, if he could succeed in 
re-conquering the Holy Sepulchre, he would add 
the most glorious crown of all to those he pos- 
sessed already. So off he set with his army for 
that purpose. 

There had been floods, and the river Saleph, 
which they had to pass, was so swollen that 
they could not ford it. There was but one small 
bridge ; and the king's patience failing him when 
he calculated the time it would take for his large 
army to pass over it, he spurred his horse into 
the flood, in order to swim across, but, alas ! 
met his death in it. Perhaps his strength failed 
him in his advanced years ; certain it is that the 
great king perished miserably in the river Saleph 
in the year 1 1 90. 

His reign had lasted thirty-eight years, and 
it will ever be famous for his being the most 
glorious hero, and the best and most beloved 
of German sovereigns. No wonder that the 



114 Early German History. 

deepest grief was felt at his death, and that 
many German leaders declared the Crusade to 
be ended forthwith, and returned to their own 
country with their men. Others, less , down- 
hearted, remained, led on by Duke Frederick, 
the son of Barbarossa, and they, together with 
the kings of France and England, declared war 
against the Mahometans. 

Of course they ought one and all to have 
pushed forward to Jerusalem, to re-conquer the 
holy sites, but their own petty quarrels as to 
who should have the precedence marred their 
success. It was at the town of Acre that the 
quarreling became most violent, for Richard I., 
the brave king of England, surnamed Coeur de 
Lion, so far forgot himself as to pull down the 
flag which had been hoisted there by his enemy, 
Duke Leopold of Austria, in order to prove that it 
was he who had taken possession of the town. 
Leopold vowed never to forget this insult and 
most certainly to be revenged upon Richard, 
and he soon found his opportunity. The Cru- 
saders, having suffered intensely from sickness 
and want, without ever reaching Jerusalem, 
were returning to Europe, disbanded and in sad 
plight. Richard feared that Leopold, through 
whose territories he had to pass, might now 
fulfill his threat, and accordingly chose to pass 
through Austria in disguise ; nor could he have 



Barbarossa and the Crusaders, 1 1 5 

been recognized had he not forgotten to take off 
his valuable ring. By it he was known to be 
the king. A sad fate awaited him, for he was 
thrown into prison and kept there without mercy. 
Leopold took care to keep his lion-hearted 
enemy so well caged that the English could never 
find out what had become of him, or they would 
have ransomed him at once. But no ; he was 
to be kept amongst damp and dreary prison 
walls — that was a better revenge. 




CHAPTER XXIX. 



LIFE IN THE CASTLES. 




O give you an idea of the hopeless con- 
dition in which prisoners were de- 
tained in these old castles, you must 
remember how inaccessible they were. Once 
the drawbridge up and the entrance closed, who 
could enter in ? or who could scale those high 
walls built on the edge of a precipice, frightful 
to look at? In fact, they were inaccessible 
even without the protection of the moat which 
surrounded the castle, and which could at 
any time be filled with water. Who, more- 
over, could resist the enemy's missiles, hurled 
upon them by powerful machines constructed 
for the purpose, whilst every protection 
was afforded to the garrison ? There were 
towers in the walls to conceal the men, 
and holes were pierced for them to look down 
upon the enemy, who, from below, could not 
even get a glimpse of them. Three-fold gates, 
guarded by triple towers, had to be passed be- 

ii6 



Life in the Castles. 117 

fore you reached the first court and then the 
second court, after which you came into a gar- 
den filled with all manner of herbs and medicinal 
simples. Then if you fancied yourself inside the 
castle you were again deceived; for a portcullis, 
most inhospitably closed against you, could only 
be opened by order of the lord and master, who 
allowed his innumerable retainers and pages to 
open it for your admission. 

Then, and then only, could you penetrate in- 
to the storerooms, kitchens and other places for 
domestic purposes, filled with the huge quanti- 
ties of meats and drinks required by so large an 
establishment. The narrow staircase would 
lead to the banqueting hall, with its ornamental 
tables and benches of carved oak, where Italian 
minstrels, with their songs, heightened the plea- 
sures of the banquet. 

The lady of the manor, with her daughters, 
handmaidens and pages, kept aloof from these 
carousings. Spinning, weaving and embroidery, 
as well as the study of medicinal herbs, took up 
their time, and they never forgot to minister to 
their lords and masters and their noble guests 
by the art of cookery. The monotony of their 
lives was often interrupted by the peddler, tempt- 
ing the noble ladies with foreign wares, or the 
wandering merchant who brought spices and 
scents, as well as news, from the far East ; and 



1 1 8 Early German History. 

above all by the bard, and his lovely youthful 
companion, v^ho sang sweet songs to the harp 
or tuneful mandolin. 

When the men had feasted to their hearts' con- 
tent, they began to display their knightly prowess 
in all sorts of games. Croquet and lawn-tennis 
would not have done for them, you may well 
believe. They tried their long swords and mighty 
lances and arquebuses in mock fights, and their 
noble steeds in every kind of equestrian cunning, 
and then they started off to the neighboring 
forest to make war upon the bear, the wolf and 
the buffalo. 

As to reading and writing, the chaplain was 
an adept in that, and why trouble the noble 
youths to learn them } Let the sons of knights 
fight bravely against a troublesome neighbor, 
scale the walls of his castle, and show them- 
selves stronger and mightier than their enemies! 
that was better than pouring over books. Let 
them try to put down the many wicked robbers 
still hiding idly in their strong castles, who used to 
issue at night to waylay cargoes of merchandise 
and seize them and their owners, and then throw 
their prisoners into dungeons that were infested 
with rats and other loathsome vermin, from which 
death alone could relieve them. Let them try to 
put down that horrible law, according to which 
might was right; for, no matter whether an ad- 



Life in the Castles. 119 

versary suffered innocently or not, the victor 
was strong-, and, being- the victor, must be right, 
and would only ask why the enemy did not try 
to get the better of him? 

Oh ! how the country suffered by this lawless 
state of things 1 which even Barbarossa had not 
succeeded in putting down altogether. How 
one faithful youth grieved, above all others, when 
he found his beloved, lion-hearted King Richard 
I., of England, must have vanished into some 
such prison, nobody knew how! This was Blon- 
del, the faithful Blondel, the constant follower of 
the king, his favorite, who used to sing to him, 
and invent sweet words and sweeter melodies, 
and who now wandered about strange countries 
poor and lonely, but determined to find his be- 
loved master. 

Poor young creature ! He had to sing at 
castle gates in order to obtain a meal, and, in 
answer to his anxious inquiries about his king, 
he was told over and again that he had not been 
heard of But Blondel was as faithful as he was 
poor, and on he went until he reached the Aus- 
trian dominions, and came to the castle of Diir- 
renstein, looking down from a dazzling height 
while the river Danube flowed at its foot. Here 
he sat down, utterly exhausted, and overcome 
by melancholy thoughts. But being young and 
naturally of a cheerful disposition, he did not 



I20 Early German History. 

allow himself to despond altogether, and he 
tuned his beloved lute, that had so often solaced 
him on his lonely pilgrimage, and began to play 
and sing. It was a song that the king loved in 
particular, and that Blondel, for love of his king, 
used to delight in singing more than any other. 

But what was his surprise when the first verse 
was ended, and he heard a distant voice sing 
the second verse, melody, words, and all.? 
" That must be the king, my king ! " said Blon- 
del, as he started up in an ecstacy of delight. 
He lost no time in returning to England, and 
proclaiming to the country where he had found 
Richard. '*Let us ransom him and set him 
free,'' he urged; but this was not so easily 
accomplished. 

Leopold was exacting, and the money not so 
easily collected, so that not only days and weeks, 
but many months elapsed, ere Richard could 
return to his country. He had endured great 
hardships, and had been transferred from one 
strong castle to another, and was made but too 
sensible of the troubles of imprisonment. It was 
thfen he felt his own hard-hearted treatment of 
friends and relatives. 

Perhaps adversity might have taught him to 
be more lenient in the future, had he not shortly 
after been shot by an arrow in a war with the 
King of France. 



f;i II I iiiiii ii 1 1 1 .iii ii iiii 111 iiilii ill wuuiii 411411111*1111 111 till Willi uijiiiii II iiiiiitiiiiii't 





!,!.','.T.V, '.'.!,!,' !.'.'. 



tiiiiiitiiiiitTXjiiiiiiiiiitiiititiJiiiiiii^ 



CHAPTER XXX. 

ABOUT THE OTHER EMPERORS OF THE HOHEN- 
STAUFEN RACE. 




ET US turn from England back again to 
Germany, where there was deep mourn- 
ing for the old hero-king, Barbarossa, 
so unexpectedly snatched away from his loving 
people. "Can he be dead? Is he really dead.? 
Shall we never see him again ? He was so 
strong and hearty when he set out, his death is 
but a fable," said they, *' and presently we shall 
see him return to us." 

And, when he did not return, the superstition 
came about that the beloved king was stopping 
away in the heart of a mountain. Superstition 
was then easily believed among those benighted 
people. The name, even, of the mountain varied 
in the tale. In the north of Germany, they said 
it was the Kyffhauser, near Frankenhausen ; in 
the south, the Untersberg, near Salzburg. There 
he sits erect, the legend says, his head resting 
upon his hand, waiting till the bad and unruly 
times have passed over Germany, and then he 

121 



122 Early Ger7nan History, 

means to return once more to govern and rule 
his people. This is sure to be told him by his 
friends, the dwarfs, for when the ravens no 
longer flutter about the mountain, their absence 
will be a sign for him to return. Meanwhile he 
is waiting, waiting ; he seems turned to stone, 
and his beard is growing so long that it has 
already passed through the stone table standing 
before him, and yet the ravens still flutter about 
the mountain, and the dwarfs still keep away, 
instead of calling upon him to return ! 

It would have been well for the country had 
all this not been a mere legend. Barbarossa s 
son, King Henry VI., was now reigning in Ger- 
many and Italy, and, though he was like his 
father in bravery and ambition, he lacked the 
justice and generosity which had distinguished 
him. Henry's queen, Constance, brought the 
kingdom of Naples and Sicily with her as her 
dowry ; but it required not only firmness, but 
even cruelty to retain it, as the Italian subjects 
would not, on any account, be ruled by a Ger- 
man king. The Pope, too, full of envy, became 
the bitterest enemy of Henry, calling himself the 
father of all Christians, chosen to watch over 
them, and to bestow the crown upon the em- 
peror. *'The Holy Father," said the Pope, "is 
like the sun, shedding light, warmth and pros- 
perity over the whole world; the emperor, like 



Other Hohenstaufen Emperors. 123 

the moon, receiving its pale light from that 
glorious sun. " 

Little did the Pope rehsh the power which 
Henry s conquest of Naples and Sicily gave him, 
and which he succeeded in destroying, as you 
will see later on. Henry enjoyed his happiness 
but a short time ; he died when only thirty-two 
years old, and left a baby son three years of 
age. 

Who was to reign now ? The child's mother, 
or the younger son of Barbarossa, Duke Phihp, 
of Suabia? They decided for the latter. But 
the Pope was ever ready to put down the race 
of Hohenstaufen and raise that of the Guelphs, 
and he lost no time in getting Otto of Bruns- 
wick elected as a rival king. 

Of course these two kings — Philip, a Hohen- 
staufen (or, as the Italians call him, one of the 
Ghibellini), and Otto, a Guelph — were certain to 
fight ; and, whilst they did so, the Pope could 
wield the sceptre, which state of affairs just 
suited him. It also suited foreign nations, such 
as the French, Greeks, Normans and Arabs, to 
profit by the internal dissensions and acquire 
lands in fertile Italy, which could not be wrested 
from them for many years to come. 

Philip of Hohenstaufen had just succeeded in 
getting the better of his rival king, when he fell 
by the hand of an assassin in the year 1208. 



124 Early German History. 

Otto IV., having been chosen by the Pope, 
might now have reigned in peace had he not 
tried to curb his benefactor's power, which the 
Holy Father resented by getting many of the 
dukes and nobles to wage war against the king. 
Others adhered to him, and, for the next ten 
years, this strife never ceased. It was only in 
12 18 that Otto's death put an end to it 

Poor baby Frederick, three years old at his 
father's death, soon lost his mother also, and 
was educated by Pope Innocent III. This Pope 
was a great lovef of art and science, and he 
filled his pupil's mind with the same inclina- 
tions ; but he was ambitious, too, and did not 
mind what means he employed to attain the de- 
sired end. 



CHAPTER XXXL 



EMPEROR FREDERICK II. 




REDERICK was a noble-looking youth 
of eighteen when he became king. 
He had the fair locks and the blue eyes 
of the GhibelHnes, together with the vivacity and 
fiery temper of his Italian mother-queen, Con- 
stance. 

He truly desired to reign as a wise king, and 
insure the happiness of his people. He accord- 
ingly made wise laws to benefit trade and re- 
compense labor. He built harbors for the safety 
of ships. He encouraged scientific men and 
poets. But there was one evil at the root of all 
this — his immeasurable love for Italy, which he 
inherited from his mother, and his want of re- 
gard for his German subjects. Oh ! how much 
pleasanter to live in Italy, the land of song and 
poetry ; to be constantly surrounded by Arabian 
and Italian men of science ; to enjoy the courtly 
manners of his Italian followers, and breathe 
the light air under the blue sky of Naples and 

125 



126 Early German History, 

Sicily. As to music, the king might have en- 
joyed plenty of that either in Germany or 
France, for there were many minstrels in either 
country, as well as in Italy. There, of course, 
they had the charm of their melodious language, 
and were daily admitted at court to sing the 
most inspiring verses about noble knights and 
their lady-loves, their prowess and their gene- 
rosity, accompanying themselves on the man- 
doHn. 

The king also attracted artists, sculptors and 
architects to his table, for he was less of a hero 
than old Barbarossa, but, on the contrary, loved 
all that was sweet and pleasant to the senses, 
and he kept a splendid court. The Pope was 
incensed at his adrriitting Mahometans as well 
as Christians, as long as they were clever men ; 
and he would not crown Frederick unless he 
promised to show himself a good Christian by 
making a Crusade, which he would never have 
done of his own free will. The king, as well as 
many other good and clever people, began to 
think that they could do more good in their own 
country than in the Holy Land For no sooner 
was it conquered than it was wrested again 
from the Europeans by the Turks, so that it 
would have required a standing army to secure 
its acquisition, which they could not afford to 
leave in Palestine. 



Emperor Frederick II. 127 

The king, however, resolved to go to Pales- 
tine, but, before he could set off, a shocking 
thing happened. A shepherd boy pretended to 
have received a letter from our Lord Jesus 
Christ, commanding them to enlist many chil- 
dren, and with them repair to the Holy Land to 
regain the Holy Sepulchre, A miracle would be 
worked for their safety. Only think that thirty 
thousand children actually set off, their parents 
being convinced it would lead to their happiness 
here and hereafter ! But, poor things, they never 
reached the Holy Land; no miracle prevented 
their dying of want or being sold as slaves, and 
not one of them returned to his home. 

The emperor set off in due time, and arrived 
safely, but part of his army had succumbed to all 
sorts of trials and privations. Frederick himself, 
and the remainder of the Crusaders, won their way 
through all sorts of difficulties. When in Italy he 
had acquired a knowledge of many of the Eastern 
languages from the learned Arabs, and, when he 
addressed the people in their own tongue and in 
his own winning way, they could not help yield- 
ing to his entreaties for food and shelter. He 
also succeeded in bringing about a peace with 
the Mussulmans, according to which Christians 
were permitted to pray unmolested at the Holy 
Sepulchre, whilst pilgrims might land without op- 
position at some of the coast towns of Syria. 



128 Early German History, 

The Pope ought to have been glad indeed at 
so much having been attained in a peaceable 
way, but he was far from satisfied. ' ' Frederick 
ought to have had all such Mussulmans killed 
as would not embrace the Christian religion/' 
said Gregory IX., who had succeeded Innocent 
IIL, *'and as to a peace with these infidels, that 
was a tissue of lies and falsehoods." He con- 
demned more than ever the emperor's conferring 
with learned Arabs, and trying, with their aid, 
to master the Eastern languages. Better get 
Christian divines to improve him in Christian 
knowledge; that, and that only, was true wis- 
dom. Frederick answered that he left all such 
studies to divines, and never would be prevented 
from frequenting his Arab teachers. He could 
prove to the Pope that he was leading a good and 
pious life, and as to music and poetry, he could 
not possibly do without that, let the Pope dislike 
it ever so much. 

In spite of this, Gregory passed the sentence 
of excommunication on Frederick whilst at Jeru- 
salem; so he and his Crusaders had to enter the 
Church of the Nativity, and offer their thanks- 
giving for having been vouchsafed the mercy 
of getting there without the attendance of a 
priest to conduct the service. 

It seemed a long time to the people of Ger- 
many since their emperor had left for the East. 



Emperor Frederick I L 129 

It is true his son Henry reigned in his stead, 
-but they felt offended at Frederick's seeming 
neglect of his German dominions, and at last 
deposed him in favor of Henry. The father, 
on his return, cast the son into prison, grieving 
bitterly, and the son had ample time to repent 
his misconduct ere he died in prison. 

Let us turn from this sad picture to a brighter 
one — to the splendid feast given by the Emperor 
Frederick in celebration of his third marriage. 
He received his bride with due honors on the 
Rhine, and they were married at Worms. Four 
kings, many bishops and nobles were present, 
and all sorts of amusements were devised for 
the noble guests. Amongst others, there were 
carriages shaped like boats, and, as soon as they 
were set in motion, they played sweet music. 
The costly trinkets, the silver plate, the dresses, 
and even the kitchen utensils, which the English 
bride brought with her, were greatly admired by 
the Germans, who had never seen the like. 

This gay time was of short duration, since a 
new rebellion had broken out in the Italian 
towns, backed up by the Pope. Ezzelino, a 
very tiger of a man, although related to Fred- 
erick, attacked him in the fiercest manner; and 
it was not till an army of a hundred thousand 
men could be opposed to him that the Milanese 
and their armies were conquered; conquered for 



130 Early German History, 

the time, but not subdued, for they rose again 
and again, and years of warfare followed. 
Frederick exacted entire submission, and might 
have succeeded in his demands had not the Pope 
interfered in favor of the towns. It was a hard 
time the king went through in rebellious Italy. 
Worst of all, whilst thus engaged, the fierce tribe 
of the Mongolians broke into Germany, destroy- 
ing man and beast by fire and sword. You will 
hear, further on, how they were at last beaten 
by the united armies of Germany on the shores 
of the Danube, leaving a hundred thousand bar- 
barians dead on the battlefield. Alas ! they also 
left the heart-rending spectacle of burning towns 
and villages, and mutilated corpses, and misery 
of all kinds. 

Conrad, the son of Frederick, reigned in his 
father's stead in Germany, while he and his son 
Enzio carried on the Italian wars. Conrad and his 
father were both worried by the Pope, who chose 
first the Landgrave of Thuringia, then William 
of Holland, as rival kings. Had not the Ger- 
man towns risen in favor of Barbarossa's grand- 
son, there would have been an end of his race, 
but they were faithful, so that William, the rival 
king, had to retire. 

You have followed me through many a sad 
account, dear readers, but none, I think, as sad 
as that of poor Enzio, the younger son of King 



i 



Emperor Frederick 11. 131 

Frederick, who, when only sixteen, fought like a 
lion at his father's side, and gained many a vic- 
tory. Just as father and son were in hopes of 
having vanquished their enemies, Enzio was 
defeated at the battle of Fossalta, and taken 
prisoner by the Bolognese. It proved an ever- 
lasting pang to his father's heart. Enzio, you 
must know, was a lovely youth, with blue eyes 
and golden locks, and, the Italians being mostly 
black-haired, he became quite renowned for his 
beauty, people asking each other whether they 
had seen those beautiful curls. Those very 
curls helped to bring about his misfortune. You 
shall hear in what way. Enzio had many 
friends, who grieved at his imprisonment and 
tried to liberate him. So they cunningly man- 
aged to get him into an empty cask, and have 
him rolled out of prison, as if it were a cask of 
wine. So far, so good ; but, as he was being 
bowled along the market place, a sentinel dis- 
covered a golden lock of hair sticking out of the 
barrel. ''What lock is that.?" cried the man ; 
*'it is for all the world like Enzio's. A curious 
barrel of wine, that ! Let us examine it more 
closely." And, when they did examine it, they 
found poor Enzio, and carried him back to his 
dark turret, where he was kept for twenty-two 
long years ! Can you fancy anything more 
miserable.? Can you picture to yourself the 



132 Early German History. 

length of twenty-two years, spent without light 
and air, without friends or occupation to while 
away the long hours ? spent thus by a lively- 
youth, his father's favorite, accustomed to all 
princely honors, and skilled in manly exercises. 
Oh ! you who read this are blessed, indeed; for 
you enjoy liberty, that golden sunshine which 
gladdens the heart 

Frederick was filled with grief ; it preyed upon 
his health, and he died in the year 1250. The 
inexorable Pope refused to become reconciled to 
him on his death-bed, or to make peace with 
his only surviving son, Conrad, who soon fol- 
lowed his father to the grave. Barbarossa's race 
was now all but extinct, little Conradin, the son 
of Conrad, being the last left ; and you will 
presently have to go with me through the law- 
less times which followed, there being no em- 
peror to quell rebellion and uphold justice. 




•*~^t^»°^^§^B feg>^ ^B^^^c*^5^^ 



CHAPTER XXXII, 



ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. 




UT now pray turn back with me to the 
time when the Order of the Knights 
Templars (of whom I told you) was 
first instituted by a son of Barbarossa about the 
year 1200. 

You remember that was at Jerusalem, but, by 
degrees, these benevolent knights came to think 
that they could do more good in Prussia, and I 
shall tell you in what manner. Look at the 
map, and you will find, on the coast of the Baltic, 
in Eastern Prussia, the three towns of Stettin, Dan- 
zig and Konigsberg ; that is the same Danzig in 
which the emperors of Germany and Russia had 
a pleasant meeting in September, 1881, but oh ! 
how different it was when the Knights Templars 
established themselves in its neighborhood! 
They had a large castle called the Marienburg. 
Eastern Prussia then contained large tracts of 
uncultivated land, dense forests, swamps and 
morasses, in which the fierce buffalo, the wild 

133 



134 Early German History, 

boar and the blood-thirsty wolf were on the 
watch for prey ; whilst the inhabitants of the 
country clung to their heathen gods and to the 
most barbarous customs, and would not be con- 
verted. It was a grand task, indeed, to civilize 
these barbarians and make their country habit- 
able, but it was a difficult one, too, and much 
praise is due to the Master of the Order, Her- 
mann von Salza. Nothing daunted by adverse 
circumstances, he first subdued and converted 
some of the wild Prussians, and then succeeded 
in procuring the aid of the Pope and king, thus 
raising the Order in the estimation of all good 
and wise men. 

It was during his time that the above-men- 
tioned wild Mongolians broke into Germany, 
and I have told you of the panic which befell 
the country when they saw what ravages these 
little men committed. They seemed men of 
iron, flying along on their small horses, their 
arrows unfailing, men and beasts never tired, 
the terror of their enemies. The Knights 
Templars mustered strong on the day of that 
awful battle of the Wahlstatt, near Liegnitz, on 
the Danube, which I mentioned to you. All the 
monks turned out of their convents, and put on 
many a piece of armor, rusty for want of use. 
The peaceful burghers of the towns joined them, 
and the war-cry resounded on all sides — that 



Orders of Knighthood. 135 

war-cry which inspired knights and nobles, 
monks, princes and burghers — '^Up, brave men; 
God will not forsake us; God is with us." Many 
a man sank with these words on his lips, pierced 
by the arrows of the MongoHans, for the slaughter 
was terrible; but every man's life was dearly 
bought, for, as I told you, a hundred thousand 
barbarians were slain. That was too much for 
our wild enemy. He buried his dead and re- 
tired, never again to be seen in Europe. 

Would you believe that it took full fifty years 
before the heathen Prussians were quite con- 
verted to Christianity } The Knights had to carry 
on war with their neighbors of Lithuania and Po- 
land ; a pestilence of five years' duration afflicted 
Prussia ; yet, in spite of all this, the successors of 
Hermann von Salza managed to benefit the 
country in every possible way. They built towns 
and filled them with clever German workmen : 
they got German peasants to teach the people of 
Prussia how to till the soil so as to produce a 
rich harvest, and how to introduce many useful 
plants, the vine, among others, and to cultivate 
it so successfully that the wine of the Knights 
Templars became most celebrated. 

Their castle of Marienburg was so wonderfully 
enlarged and improved that it remains to this 
day the finest piece of Ancient German archi- 
tecture. The hall, supported by graceful 



136 Early German History. 

pillars, was the meeting'-place of the digni- 
taries of the Order ; the Knights used to dine 
in it together with the priests, and there 
they would also converse or play chess and 
draughts. Many a tale that splendid hall and 
those pillars and walls might tell ! They had 
seen Winrich von Kniprode, the much-dreaded 
Grand Master of the Order, surrounded by his 
knights, receiving the ambassadors of foreign 
courts ; they had heard many a conference for 
settling new laws and ordinances, and they had 
beheld the grandest of all banquets given to 
friends and neighbors, when wine-cups were 
filled and re-filled, and the minstrel sang so 
divinely that a golden cup became his reward, 
handed to him by the Grand Master. How 
could any one dare to stand up as the rival of 
one so skilled in song ? And yet there was an 
old Prussian bard who tried to wrest the palm 
of victory from him by singing a heathenish 
song in the harsh language now become almost 
obsolete ; but he failed utterly, and earned deri- 
sion where he had expected praise. He fled, 
dismayed, shattered his harp against the castle 
wall, and uttering a frightful curse, he called down 
destruction upon the Knights and their castle. 
Fortunately, he cursed in vain, for there is the 
splendid building still erect after many centuries, 
the pride of Prussia, and one of her bulwarks. 



^ Orders of Knighthood, 137 

The new towns quickly rose and prospered, 
and churches and other public buildings soon 
showed that good taste prevailed. The rivers 
carried valuable cargoes from the towns across 
the sea, and thus a new exchange of produce 
was established between Germanized Prussia 
and foreign countries. Best of all innovations, 
schools for the education of youth were estab- 
lished by the Knights. Learned men and artists 
were invited into this part of Germany, which 
was so flourishing under the Grand Master, 
Winrich of Kniprode, while other parts were at 
that time abandoned to wretched lawlessness 
and strife. 

But before I tell you of this, let me take you 
to the celebration of Christmas Day in an ancient 
burgher family of the time. I know you will 
enjoy that. It was not as merry as in our time ; 
no soaped pole to climb up for a sausage ; no bar- 
rel filled with bran out of which to pick the sweets 
that were strewn in it, and, above all, no peals 
of laughter at our neighbor's slightly scorched 
finger and thumb whilst picking raisins out of 
burning spirits of wine. The ancient Germans 
welcomed the birth of their Saviour in a more 
religious spirit. The whole family — father,mother, 
children and servants — were gathered together 
to see a representation of the infant Jesus lying 
in a manger surrounded by fir-trees. Young 



138 Early Ger^nan History. , 

priests, dressed as shepherds, appeared and in- 
quired where they could find the Blessed Infant ; 
while other priests, or youths, robed in white 
and adorned with wing-s, represented angels and 
conducted them to it, all joining in hymns of 
praise while kneeling before it. 

The people were allowed to take part in this 
celebration. Young and old kept running from 
house to house and from church to church to 
find out which was the finest manger or the 
prettiest arrangement of fir-trees, for at that time 
churches and houses were decked alike on 
Christmas Eve. 

As a contrast, you must learn how the heathens 
kept Christmas. Of course they did not celebrate 
the birth of Our Lord, but they rejoiced in having 
passed the shortest day, and sat together feast- 
ing and carousing. There was much singing to 
glorify their heroes; much discussion about new 
means of warfare and depredation, and finally 
they got so intoxicated that it brought about no 
end of disgusting brawls. 

After the death of the Grand Master, Winrich 
of Kniprode, the Order of the Knights Templars 
had seen its best days and began to decline. 
The Knights, who had formerly worked to bring 
about the conversion of the Prussians, now that 
these had become Christians, were only idlers, 
leading a life of luxury and ease. This the towns 



Orders of Knighthood. 



139 



resented, saying: '^We have redeemed the land 
and made it fertile ; we ought to enjoy the fruits 
of our labors and not have to feed these idle 
foreigners on its produce." 

They knew how to give weight to these words 
by drawing into their interest the kings of Po- 
land and Lithuania who, after having joined them 
in a war against the knights, managed to exter- 
minate the greater part of them. 

Later on, the Order was raised into a duchy 
under the Margrave of Brandenburg, who had 
been elected Grand Master, and in 1701 the 
duchy became a kingdom, and its princes hence- 
forth called Kings of Prussia. 



1 c>^t5cXr<;c>T<;c>T<3:!>'5^::Xr<3iF3TDaF5^Dci>T^c^;r^ 







CHAPTER XXXm. 

CONRADIN, THE LAST OF THE HOHENSTAUFENS. 

SCARCELY know how to describe the 
wretched state of poor Germany after 
the death of King Frederick II. and his 
son, Conrad. Four years after this event, the 
princes and nobles, wanting to be independent, 
combined to oppose the young Count Wilham 
of Holland, who had been elected Emperor of 
Germany, and his successors, the English 
prince, Richard of Cornwall, and the King of 
Spain, Alfonso of Castile. For twenty long years 
there was neither peace nor order in Germany, 
and this sad time is called the Interregnum. 

Nor shall we find Italy in better condition if 
we turn to that, for the king there could not get 
the Pope to befriend him, although he was reign- 
ing cleverly and wisely. He was Manfred, a 
son of Frederick, and endowed with all the best 
qualities of his father. A rival king was again 
set up, and Manfred, who was a lover of peace 
and art and science, had to make war ; and after 

140 



Conradin. 141 

fighting heroically, he was killed at the battle of 
Benevento. 

During all these sad events, young Conradin, 
the baby son of Conrad IV., had grown into a 
fine young man under the care of his mother, 
who watched over him in her retirement. He 
was her only treasure in her bereavement, and 
amply returned her love and affection. They 
had vowed never to be separated, and they 
meant to keep their vow. But alas ! when am- 
bassadors were sent from Italy to entreat him 
to come and reign over them, Conradin wavered 
in his resolution. They said they would replace 
him on the throne of his grandfather, Frederick, 
and through him due honors should again be 
restored to the Ghibellines. The offer was too 
tempting to be refused. His poor mother in 
vain reminded him of his promise. In vain she 
said: *'Do not go into Italy — into the land of 
your enemies, the land in which your father and 
so many dear to him were betrayed and met 
with an untimely death. Do not deliver your- 
self into the hands of the Pope — that bitterest 
enemy of your race — who alone sways the 
sceptre in Italy ; do not go into his country ; 
go anywhere else, but not to Italy ! " In vain ! 
Her words were lost upon him, and he set out, 
accompanied by his bosom friend, Frederick of 
Baden, to regain a crown and re-establish the 



142 Early German History, 

glory of his race ; the wretched mother being 
left alone with her sad forebodings. 

At first the two young men had every reason 
to exult in their success and rejoice in not hav- 
ing listened to the advice of an anxious mother; 
but, by degrees, matters changed for the worse, 
and ere long Conradin found himself entangled 
in a war, defeated in battle and obliged to look 
for safety in flight. And there they were, rush- 
ing about, he and his friend, Frederick, along 
untrodden paths, up and down steep hills, 
alarmed by the rushing waters lest they should 
engulf them, though that would be better than 
being discovered by their enemies ; on and on, 
till at last they reached Rome, where, happily, 
the descendant of Barbarossa was received with 
due honors. No sooner, however, did the 
Romans hear of his defeat and flight than they 
turned from him. The two young friends, with 
but a few followers, had to escape in the dark of 
night, and again wade through mires and 
marshes until they reached a small coast town, 
whence they hoped to sail from Italy. 

The chief magistrate, however, got suspicious 
on seeing so many foreigners embarking, for 
they had some valuable trinkets about them, 
which, as young men, they had not had the 
foresight to hide. This bad and ungrateful 
magistrate, who had received great benefits from 



Conradin. 143 

Conradin's grandfather, had the bark pursued 
which took them out to sea, and they were dis- 
covered and deHvered up to that implacable 
enemy, Charles of Anjou, King- of Naples and 
Sicily. 

Carried back to Naples in chains, imprisoned 
and taken before a tribunal, Conradin was accused 
of having sinned against the people and rebelled 
against King Charles. A noble Milanese, who 
had hitherto been an enemy of the Ghibellines, 
was so shocked at this injustice that he tried to 
prove it was such by asserting Conradin's right 
to the throne. But in vain, for King Charles 
himself now arose, pleading his own cause 
against Conradin. There was but one voice 
against Conradin amongst the Milanese judges; 
all the rest declared him innocent of rape, mur- 
der and rebellion. But the one dissenting voice 
was accepted and all the others were rejected by 
the king, and his youthful enemy was condemned 
to death. 

You may fancy what Conradin must have felt 
when he was interrupted in a game of chess by 
the bearer of the sad news. But he bore up 
bravely; he neither complained nor sued for 
grace, but only prayed to God to support him 
in his trial. Not many days after, a set of 
workmen were erecting a high scaffold, with an 
extensive view over sea and land ; and, on Oc- 



144 Early German History. 

tober 29th, in the year 1268, a man, barefooted 
and with sleeves tucked up, stood on this scaf- 
fold, with a large sword in his hand, waiting for 
the last of the Ghibellines. The king, with a 
sinister mien, watched the sad proceedings from 
a bay window. 

When Conradin arrived he looked pale, but, 
although he was only sixteen , years old, he 
mounted the steps as firmly as a man, and firmly 
spoke these words: ''I ask all the former 
subjects of my ancestors, I ask all the monarchs 
of this world, whether he who tries to defend 
his own and his people's rights is guilty of 
treason ? Also, whether those ought to be de- 
clared guilty who have been my friends? I 
throw down my glove, and request it may be 
carried to my friend and relative, Peter of Ara- 
gon, who will become my heir." The glove 
was picked up by a knight, who faithfully car- 
ried it to its destination. 

Conradin took an affectionate leave of all his 
friends, who, like him, were to meet death, and 
at last tore himself from the loving embrace of 
his dear friend, Frederick of Baden, calling out, 
with folded hands and devoutly kneeling, " Lord 
Jesus, into Thy hands do I commit my soul." 
Then, suddenly thinking of his mother, he said; 
*'0h, my poor mother I what grief do I inflict 
upon thee I " after which he quietly received the 



Conradin. 145 

fatal blow. Frederick of Baden followed ; but 
two victims were not enough, and many others 
of the Ghibelline race were executed. In fact, 
torrents of blood were shed under that tyrant, 
Charles of Anjou, who enriched himself and his 
accompHces with the property of the murdered 
victims. This went on for seventeen long 
years, and then the day of retaliation came. 

It was on Easter Monday, 1282, that the town 
of Palermo rose as one man against the cruelty 
of the French soldiery. Other Italians joined 
them, and a frightful butchery of the French en- 
sued, called in history the ''Sicilian Vespers." 
Let us draw a dark curtain over these awful 
scenes, and rejoice in the success of Peter of 
Aragon, after the defeat and miserable end of 
that pitiless tyrant, Charles of Anjou, forsaken 
by his party, and utterly broken down in body 
and mind. 





CHAPTER XXXIV. 

THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE. 

HAVE told you a good deal about 
the depredations of the roving knights 
of Germany, who were nothing 
short of highwaymen, and, I am sorry to 
say, they were more fearless than ever, plun- 
dering merchants of their rich cargoes, find- 
ing out all sorts of wicked ways to escape 
punishment, and laughing, after all, at the hon- 
est burghers when they had made fools of them. 
Just listen to the tale of Eppelein von Gailin- 
gen, the most daring thief of his time, steahng 
and escaping by turns. At last he was caught 
by some wily citizens of Nuremberg, who were 
not slow in passing sentence of death upon him 
— death by hanging, too. '^Hanging.? Yes," 
thought Eppelein, "hang me when you have 
caught me?" But they had caught him, you 
will say, and so they had, but he was not on the 
gallows yet. When the morning of his execution 
came, the sun was shining brightly, and he, 

146 



The Hanseatic League. 147 

looking his saddest, asked, in the most doleful 
tone, if they would do him only one favor before 
he quitted this world forever. Might he once more 
have the pleasure of bestriding his own horse? 
Might he ride to the place of execution ? The 
good Nurembergers, unsuspicious as they were, 
granted this request '^Poor man," said they ; 
" there is the hangman waiting, the bell tolling, 
the last bell he will ever hear. Let him ride on 
horseback, instead of being conveyed in the 
condemned cart ; what difference can it make 1 " 
But, indeed, it did make a difference for Eppe- 
lein. As soon as he felt his own horse under 
him, he spurred it into a mad gallop, and leaped 
over the town wall, then cleared the moat, and 
left the gaping burghers, and the hangman, and 
the gallows, far behind him. 

This was one incident of many. Then the 
burgher-merchants brought their complaints be- 
fore the emperor, and he gave them letters for- 
bidding all thieves to waylay their owners, or 
death would be the punishment But these 
letters, although paid for with their weight in 
gold, were not respected. What was the em- 
peror's safe-conduct to these wild fellows ? They 
knew a thousand ways of escaping punishment, 
and the citizens had no chance in a fight with 
them. 

So all the rich towns— Hamburg, Lubeck, 



148 Early German History, 

Rostock, Stralsund, Danzig, Konigsberg, Stettin, 
Cologne, Miinster, Bremen, Brunswick, Dort- 
mund, Luneburg, Magdeburg, Riga and Dorpat — 
wanted to unite in a league for safety. '' Let us 
pay soldiers," said they, ''to protect us, instead 
of paying for the emperor's useless safe-conducts. 
Our united strength must be sufficiently power- 
ful to keep off the common enemy. " And they 
acted accordingly. 

The three towns — Hamburg, Lubeck and 
Bremen — were the mightiest, and the first to 
form a league, which they called ''Hansa." 
This was an ancient German word, which 
meant an association of men having but one 
common interest. Seventy-seven other towns 
joined the Hansa, and most efficiently did they 
withstand the robbers, who found they could 
no longer oppose so powerful a league. The 
three first Hansa towns were all of them sea- 
ports, and were often visited by the Eastern pil- 
grims, who taught them many useful things, 
learnt in their distant travels, and the German 
workmen soon adapted these to their own 
country. Then the celebrated Italian mer- 
chants came from Florence, Pisa, Venice and 
Genoa, to trade w^ith the Germans in a large 
way; not in ready money, but by written 
drafts, payable at stated times. There were 
money-changers carrying on these transactions 



The Hanseatic League, 149 

for the great merchants from town to town, 
the people of Lombardy, as well as the Jewish 
money-changers, rendering trade more flourish- 
ing by a brisk interchange of business. Of 
course, many differences between parties had to 
be settled, and many a controversy to be set at 
rest, and, for this purpose, there was a *' Hansa 
day" appointed, when complaints were heard 
and attended to, and new treaties concluded. 

Delegates from the different towns attended, 
and even Flanders and Russia joined the mighty 
*^Hansa-bund," or Hanseatic League, which 
flourished for upwards of a hundred years. 
Their ships were respected everywhere; their 
fleet laid down the law to its bitterest enemy, 
the King of Denmark ; and not that only, but the 
Hansa made canals to facilitate the intercourse 
between the different places, and erected fine 
buildings to ornament the towns. 

In process of time, pride, conceit and jealousy 
took possesion of the Hanseatic leaders; dis- 
tant countries had, in their turn, learnt how to 
become powerful ; and a new quarter of the 
world having been discovered, a thorough 
change of roads, by land and water, became 
indispensable. The powerful Hansa was first 
shattered, and gradually broken down ; not, 
however, until its joint efforts had achieved 
many great and good things. 



t!t;:ttli^^^,jnr:i7^ 



CHAPTER XXXV. 




EMPEROR RUDOLF, OF HAPSBURG. 

TOLD you of the sad state of Germany 
during the twenty years called the 
Interregnum, when foreign princes 
were chosen to reign over Germany and Italy, 
and did it in the most careless and cruel 
manner. 

All this time a poor count, Rudolf von Haps- 
burg, was distinguishing himself by his bravery, 
as well as by the clever way in which he as- 
sisted, first, his godfather. King Frederick 11. , 
in his wars against Italy, and then the Swiss 
people, who were treated with the utmost cruelty 
by their nobles. Rudolf espoused their cause, 
and helped them to cast off their yoke. You 
will, I know, like to hear of the cunning devices 
he sometimes made use of to get the better of 
his enemies, when he found that weapons alone 
would not do it. Once, for instance, when he 
wanted to take the fortified town of Colmar, and 
did not know how to get within the gates, he took 

150 



Emperor Rudolfs of Hapsburg, 151 

a number of empty wine-casks and filled them 
— not with wine, but with soldiers. The be- 
sieged, being glad to see a fresh supply of wine 
to fill their cellars, readily admitted the casks ; 
but scarcely were they inside the town than out 
jumped the soldiers, and posted themselves at 
the gates, which they so well succeeded in keep- 
ing open that Rudolfs whole force were able to 
enter and take Colmar. 

Another time it was a fortified castle he wanted 
to take. The river Limmer lay at its foot, and 
on it a boat arrived close to the castle, pretend- 
ing it had sprung a leak and wanted assistance. 
Every man in the castle turned out to see what 
was the matter, but they got poor thanks for 
their sympathy, for armed men, hidden in the 
boat, dashed forward, and, climbing up the steep 
hill, darted into the deserted castle and took 
possession of it. Then, again, Rudolf practiced 
a trick upon the lord of a strong castle, who 
would keep his gates closed against him. He 
ascertained that the lord and all his followers 
rode out sometimes on white horses. What did 
Rudolf do? He watched them till they were 
far off, then mounted a white horse, and got a 
band of trusty followers to do likewise, all of 
them disguised like the retainers of the castle. 
This disguise must have been perfect, indeed, 
for the castle-warden readily admitted them ; and 



152 Early German History, 

what must have been the surprise of the lord and 
his followers on being received by a band of 
armed men in possession of the castle ! 

On another occasion, the count went unarmed 
and alone to the Abbot of St. Gallen, who was 
sitting at dinner with his knights and nobles, all 
talking about Rudolf, and considering how they 
might manage to drive this bitterest of their 
enemies out of the country. Rudolf quietly 
walked up to the abbot and said, ''I have come 
to make peace with you, reverend sir. You are 
surrounded by armed knights, I am alone and 
defenceless, so it will be an easy matter to rftake 
me a prisoner ; but I feel and believe that you 
will not abuse my confidence by so unlawful an 
act, and fearlessly do I stand before you.'' The 
abbot was touched by being so trusted, and 
readily agreed to the terms of peace proposed 
by Rudolf, and at once concluded it. This story 
shows you that he did not only conquer by 
stealth, but by his firm belief in the goodness of 
his fellow-men, and by the exercise of many 
other loveable qualities. 

He was also a very religious man, and this 
has been illustrated by the poet Schiller in the 
following story : Rudolf, in hunting, had come 
to a running brook, and was just going to pass 
it on horseback, when he perceived a priest bear- 
ing a cross, and in the act of taking off his shoes 



Emperor Rudolf ^ of Hapsburg, 153 

and stockings. ''What are you doing, reverend 
sir ? '' said the count. ''I must ford this brook," 
rejoined the priest, ''for on the other side there 
Hes a man in the agony of death, and, as the 
gale has torn away the bridge, I must make my 
way through the water to bring the last com- 
forting words to the poor soul ere it depart this 
life." "Heaven forbid," said the count, "that 
I should be mounted on horseback riding through 
this brook, unmolested, whilst a pious servant of 
the Church, who is carrying the cross of my 
Saviour, has to struggle barefoot through the 
water. Mount ye my horse, holy father, with 
your cross, whilst I humble myself by bestriding 
my groom's mare." So saying, he dismounted, 
helped the priest on to his horse, and when, a 
few days later, the holy father wanted to return 
it, he made him accept it as a gift. Many years 
later, when Rudolf was no longer count, but 
had been elected emperor, he was feasting his 
nobles at his own courtly table and called for 
music to heighten their enjoyment. A bard was 
accordingly introduced, and the lay he sang to 
his harp was about a good count who had dis- 
mounted in honor of a priest going to ford a 
brook that he might solace the last moments of 
a dying Christian. Of course the emperor knew 
the story as his own, but what was his surprise 
when he recognized his abbot in the bard! 



154 Early German History, 

Both rejoiced at this unexpected meeting, which 
led to the abbot s high preferment in the church. 
Having become a foe to the Swiss, and, as 
usual, busy in some warlike enterprise, Rudolf 
was laying siege to the town of Basle on the 
very day he was elected emperor. The towns- 
people received the news with great rejoicing, 
and forthwith opened their gates to him. But if 
they were pleased, some of the nobles were not; 
for they each placed their own claims to the crown 
far above those of '' that poor Count Rudolf of 
Hapsburg," and they were pleased at an incident 
which occurred after the coronation at Aix-la- 
Chapelle, hoping it might put him to confusion. 
He had to take up the sceptre and lay it lightly on 
the shoulder of each baron as a token that the 
grant of lands made to him by the late emperor , 
would be upheld by him also. For a moment — 
but for a moment only — he looked about for 
the missing sceptre; then with his usual pres- 
ence of mind he seized the crucifix on the altar, 
and facing the barons said : ' ' This has once been 
a sign of deliverance to the Christian world; it may 
well serve us to-day as a sceptre," and, suiting 
the action to the word, he performed the cere- 
mony without the slightest embarrassment. It 
was the turn of the barons, then, to feel confused. 
They got laughed at, while the emperor's ready 
wit was universally praised and acknowledged. 



CHAPTER XXXVL 




EMPEROR RUDOLF (CONCLUDED). 

UDOLF found powerful allies in the hus- 
bands of his handsome daughters, and 
SO became a mighty sovereign, dreaded 
by his enemies. The mightiest and most valiant 
prince amongst these was Ottokar, King of Bo- 
hemia, and he was the richest also, but had to 
hold his lands as a grant from the German em- 
peror. Little did he relish bending his knee 
before him and taking the oath of fealty, and 
scarcely had two years elapsed when he rebelled 
against ''the poor count that was," and made 
war upon him. 

The battle of the Marchfeld, near Vienna, 
where the two armies met, was one of wholesale 
slaughter, and Rudolfs Hfe was saved as by a 
miracle just as his wounded horse dropped under 
him, leaving him to the mercy of his enemies. 
A powerful horseman raised his axe to deal him 
the final blow, when some of his men interposed 
and saved him with undaunted courage. But 

155 



156 Early German History. 

oh! the misery of that awful battle ! Thousands 
perished, and no less, than fourteen members of 
the noble family of Tmntmansdorf shed their 
blood for their beloved emperor. At last King 
Ottokar, who had fought as bravely as Rudolf, 
was severely wounded and made prisoner, and 
that ended the battle. As soon as Rudolf heard 
his mighty enemy was in his power, he hastened 
to the spot to see him treated kindly and with 
due honors. But he arrived too late. Fierce 
soldiers had put out the last spark of life which 
remained in him and stripped him of his rich 
clothing. So there he lay, once so powerful, 
now a corpse weltering in his blood ! 

Rudolf turned away wiih horror ; and pray, let 
us do the same, and follow our king, of whom I 
have more pleasant things to tell you. First and 
foremost, he knew how to conciliate the 
Pope, Gregory K, which, you will allow, was a 
blessing to Germany, considering what quarrel- 
ing there had been between former kings and 
Popes. There is a nice story told about the em- 
peror and a certain Jacob Miiller, a citizen of 
Zurich, whom he had offended while he was yet 
a count, and who retaliated upon him whenever 
he could. This, of course, vexed Count Rudolf, 
and one day when they met in a field he said : 
''There now, I have got you at last, Jacob Miil- 
ler ; I am armed and you are not, so I will chas- 



Emperor Rudolf. 1 57 

tise you." But scarcely were the words spoken 
before he thought of the injustice of chastising a 
defenceless man, and he allowed him to pass un- 
harmed. See how his conscientiousness was re- 
warded! Both Miiller and the count were light- 
ing against the Swiss, when the enemy be- 
gan to surround a rider who had just been 
unhorsed. This was Rudolf himself. At the 
critical moment Miiller sprang forward and 
covered him entirely with his ponderous shield 
and thus prevented his being recognized. Had 
the Swiss known who he was, he must have 
fallen a prey to their fury. No sooner had Rudolf 
been elected king and emperor than he thought 
of Jacob Miiller, who had once saved his life, 
and sent for him to Mayence, where he was 
holding his court. There he made him sit at the 
head of the table. The knights and nobles did 
not believe their eyes when they saw a simple 
burgher occupying the seat of honor ; and the 
king, seeing their surprise, said: *' This man 
has saved the life of the Count Rudolf; the 
Emperor Rudolf ought never to forget him.'' 
That was grateful, and I am sure you love him 
for his gratitude. 

And now you are going to laugh, for it is an 
anecdote about the king's long nose I am going 
to tell you. While he was driving one day with 
a suite of knights and retainers, they met a 



158 Early German History. 

peasant with a wagon-load of wood in a narrow 
street. ''Give room," called out the equerry, 
*'it is our lord, the emperor himself, who wants 
to pass." The peasant, little thinking the nose 
he railed at could belong to the emperor, called 
out, ''Yes, I will make room as soon as that 
long nose gets out of my way, for it is //j^/ which 
obstructs the passage." "Well and good ! " cried 
the king, " it shall get out of the way ! " and he 
turned aside. The knights burst out laughing, 
and the peasant must have felt horrified indeed 
on learning who was the owner of the long nose. 
There is another joke of the same kind about 
King Rudolf. Being always ready to outstrip 
court etiquette, he used to take soHtary walks 
at an hour when his courtiers were still asleep. 
Thus he set out one raw, cold morning, and 
turned into a baker's shop, attracted by the 
genial warmth of the oven and the smell of the 
baking rolls. "I am an old soldier," said he to 
the baker's wife, "and very cold; let me have a 
good warm at your nice oven." " I hate sol- 
diers," was the answer, "they and their emperor 
do us a deal of harm, and we are sick of war." 
And then she went on pouring a stream of abuse 
upon the heads of these detested enemies. The 
emperor listened patiently, but at last ventured 
to interpose with, "You do not understand these 
matters, my good woman," and was going to 



Emperor Rudolf . 159 

explain, when she cut short his speech by pour- 
ing a large can of water into the hissing oven, 
and the cloud of vapor and smoke nearly blinded 
the emperor, driving him away as fast as his 
legs would carry him. At dinner he greatly 
amused his courtiers by relating his adventure, 
each new term of abuse being received with 
shouts of laughter. '' Well have some more fun 
yet," said the emperor. '' I will send this baker's 
wife a boar's head and a flask of wine, and let 
her know they come from the table of the old 
soldier, who wishes her a good appetite." The 
woman turned ashy pale when the royal messen- 
ger told his errand. What could she do to make 
the emperor forget her insulting language and 
her hard-hearted behaviour when he was cold 
and she refused him a seat near her warm oven t 
She would go to court and fall at his feet to sue 
for mercy. She was shaking like an aspen when 
she did so, but he, kind as ever, said : '' I will 
show mercy, but a punishment is due to you, 
and you must bear it." Of course a vision of 
money forfeited, of prison or of corporal punish- 
ment floated before the eyes of the frightened 
woman ; but none of these had he thought of. 
" Then what else ?" I hear my young readers say. 
Well, she had to stand up before him and repeat 
every term of abuse — every wicked word she 
had made use of in the morning, while fits of 



i6o Early German History. 

laughter made the tears course down the em- 
peror's cheeks. At last he dismissed her 
graciously ; and she, I suppose, would never 
slander anyone after this lesson, least of all the 
king. A good thing, too ; for if there is one thing 
m.ore uncharitable than another it is that abuse 
of our ''brethren" which Our Lord so strictly 
forbids. 

There were not many, indeed, who would 
speak to the king in the way this baker's wife 
did, for he was generally beloved — a very father 
to his people. Anybody who wished might 
speak to him ; he dressed, ate and drank no bet- 
ter than any citizen, and led a pious and orderly 
life. On being asked, shortly after his corona- 
tion, where his treasure was to be kept, he an- 
swered in his own modest way: *'I possess but 
these five shillings here in my hand, but please 
God they will increase.'' And so they did. He 
succeeded in all his enterprises, and became lord 
over a wide and prosperous realm. 

Instead of spending as much time in Italy as 
the former emperors had done, he traveled about 
in Germany, trying to remedy the ills his people 
were complaining of. He wanted, above all, 
to secure the happiness and well-doing of his 
subjects, and the best means for so doing was to 
bestow honors on the peaceful citizens, and 
utterly to annihilate the castles of the robber 



Emperor Rudolf. 



i6i 



knights who were trying to hide their ill-gotten 
plunder from him. As to the nobles, they were 
obliged to treat their subjects with due justice 
and even kindness, for Rudolph held, with the 
pious maxim, that he who has received much 
should also give freely ; so that the nobles being 
rich and mighty should set an example of gener- 
osity, justice and other good qualities to all those 
placed under them. 

When he fell ill, and knew his death was ap- 
proaching, he said: ''Take me to Spires, where 
my great ancestors lie buried ; there will I also 
die." So they set off with him, but he died on 
the road, at a small place called Germersheim, on 
July 1 2th, in 1291, and his corpse was carried to 
Spires, and interred in the cathedral. 








r§Mai3wM^«^ ai^§ giPig^^ 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 



EMPEROR ALBRECHT AND THE SWISS. 




N emperor so greatly beloved as Rudolf 
could only be mourned and regretted, 
and so he was — the just, clever, brave 
and kind-hearted emperor, Rudolf von Haps- 
burg. He was happy in the happiness of his 
subjects, but, alas ! he was not blessed in his 
sons. Hermann, the eldest, met with an un- 
timely death while on a boating excursion. He 
was his father's favorite, and well might he love 
htm in preference to his younger son. 

Albrecht was a morose youth, who used to 
tyrannize over his followers, and cast his one 
eye (having lost the other) greedily upon the 
possessions of other princes, which he coveted, 
and thought he would use all his shrewdness to 
secure them as soon as he was elected empe- 
ror. But he reckoned too soon upon what did 
not belong to him. The archbishops of Co- 
logne, Treves and Mayence feared he would 
tyrannize over them, too, and they managed to 

162 



Albrecht and the Swiss, 163 

get Count Adolf, of Nassau, elected in his stead. 
This young man had to promise, in return, a 
strict adherence to the Church and entire sub- 
mission to the archbishops. But he was poor 
and powerless, and, after some years, Albrecht, 
furious at being set aside for this rival, brought 
a large army into the field and defeated his 
enemy, and, with his own hands, thrust a lance 
through his head. Then Albrecht was king, and 
the first use he made of his dignity was to get 
Adolf buried in an obscure convent ; not with 
the other German emperors, in the cathedral of 
Spires, as that was too great an honor for the 
usurper, according to his notions. 

After the coronation of the new emperor and 
empress, in 1298, there was a grand banquet, at 
which the nobles had to tender them wine in 
golden cups, kneeHng, to show how deeply 
their majesties were to be reverenced. Well 
might the courtiers and princes, in their humbled 
position, think of their good and friendly em- 
peror, Rudolf, who had wished for love, and 
never exacted servility from his subjects. During 
the banquet a young woman, in deepest mourn- 
ing, penetrated into the festive hall. She knelt 
down before the emperor, and, with floods of 
tears, entreated him to restore to liberty her son 
who was now his prisoner. Only a mother 
could havQ overcome the feelings of disgust and 



164 Early German History, 

hatred when suing for grace at the feet of her 
husband's murderer, but she did so with all her 
energy, and every endeavor to conciliate him. 
Yet he spurned her from him with cold, insult- 
ing words, and then turned to his guests. 

I know your hearts will mourn for the poor 
widow and her son, yet I have to tell you a 
sadder tale still when you follow me to Switzer- 
land. That grand and beautiful country, in which 
so many of your friends enjoy their summer 
holidays, was then the scene of much cruelty. 
Its sturdy inhabitants, who desired to be free as 
their mountain air, were oppressed and enslaved 
by Albrecht's officials, and every atrocity was 
resorted to in order to crush their spirit. They 
wanted to be good and loyal subjects to their 
emperor, but neither to crouch nor cringe before 
him or his governors ; and whenever they re- 
fused to abase themselves by gross flattery, they 
were branded with the name of traitors. Then 
the three bravest amongst them met on the 
Riith mountain one moonlight night, and took a 
solemn oath to incite their countrymen to re- 
sistance, and throw off their shameful yoke. 
And well they might, too, for they had seen 
every injustice done to them. If one of the 
governors chose, he would take away the wife 
of a Swiss peasant from her husband and family, 
declaring she was much too good for them, 



Albrecht and the Swiss. 165 

and would do better for him ; or, if another 
governor (Jandvogi) wanted to drive the best 
team of oxen away from the owner's farm into 
his stables (that is, to steal them), and the son 
should oppose such an unlawful measure, his 
poor father was punished by having both his 
eyes put out. 

Each Swiss canton had a landvogt, affid the 
very worst of them was Gessler, who vowed 
to humble the inhabitants of the cantons 
Schwytz and Uri, over which he presided. I 
suppose he had that wicked king, Nebuchad- 
nezzar, in his mind, although he did not set 
up a golden image, or have '' cornet, flute, harp, 
sackbut, psaltery and dulcimer, and all sorts of 
music," but merely put up a hat of his own on a 
long pole, and placed it in the highway, with a 
strict injunction that all passers-by should do 
homage to it as to himself, or else expect severe 
punishment. *'See if I do not humble that 
stubborn people, and make it show me rever- 
ence," said Gessler ; and, in truth, many did 
obeisance to the hat, although with gnashing 
of teeth. 

To William Tell this seemed impossible, as he 
was one day walking past it with his little boy. 
He was as brave as he was honest, and, more- 
over, one of the best marksmen in the country. 
The sentinel placed to see that due honor 



1 66 Early German History. 

was done to the hat, seized him, and Gessler 
received him with revengeful looks, saying : 
*'They tell me thou art an unerring shot, and 
thou shalt prove it this day. We will .tie thy 
boy to a neighboring tree, and place an apple 
on his head. Point thy arrow well at it, for, if 
thou dost not hit this apple, thy boy's Hfe is for- 
feited, and he dies. " 

I wish you could read that beautiful drama by 
Schiller, called ''Wilhelm Tell,'' or see Tell 
represented by the famous actor, Barnory, and 
you would feel the whole awful scene more in- 
tensely than any words could express. The re- 
fusal of the agonized father, with his heart- 
rending cry of, ' ' How can I become the murderer 
of my boy } How aim at his beloved head, and 
maybe pierce it instead of the apple } How, by 
missing my shot, deliver him up to become your 
victim .? Oh ! mercy ! mercy ! " whilst Gessler 
frowns vengeance in answer to this appeal. 
Then the little fellow says, pluckily : " I am not 
afraid of your arrow, father ; I shall not wince. 
You never miss your shot, father ; only do not let 
them tie me to the tree. Not a bit will I move, 
not I, father. Take courage and shoot. " 

The strong man trembled, and still resisted; 
but, finding that Gessler was inexorable, he 
prayed to God to show him that mercy which 
cruel man refused Then Tell steadied himself, 



Albrecht and the Swiss. 167 

and took two arrows, and, having examined 
them well, he put one on his crossbow and the 
other in his bosom. Then he shot and hit the 
apple, which fell to the ground, while the boy- 
rushed unhurt into his father's arms. There 
was a tearful joy in that embrace — there was 
Teirs fervent thanksgiving ; but there was also 
Gessler's unrelenting hatred, and, in the midst 
of Tell's joy, he heard the question thundered at 
him : ' * Thou hadst two arrows ; thou hast one 
still remaining. What didst thou intend doing 
with that P Speak openly; I insure thy life." 
'^That second arrow would have killed thee, 
landvogt, had I missed my shot. Thou wouldst 
have followed my innocent boy.'' 

''Oho ! " said Gessler, 'Ms that it? Well, my 
promise secures thy life ; but I will have thee 
cast into utter darkness, where neither sun nor 
moon shall ever gladden thy sight Bind him 
hand and foot, ye slaves, and into the boat with 
him ! " Upon which rough hands seized him 
and soon poor Tell w^as lying prostrate in the 
boat and securely fettered ; and he could only 
see and not reach his crossbow to use it. Gess- 
ler himself entered the boat, and directed the 
men to steer across the lake of the four cantons 
to the castle of Klitznacht. If ever there was a 
hopeless condition, it was Tell's, in the hands 
of his unrelenting, powerful enemy ; but there 



1 68 Early German History, 

was a hand more powerful watching over him 
from above. The sky became covered with 
clouds as dark as the Kiitznacht dungeon ; the 
waves of the wide lake reflected their .sinister 
color, and rose in tumultuous foam ; the small 
craft was thrown hither and thither ; thunder 
rolled, lightning flashed ; and, at last, the helms- 
man declared the boat to be in imminent danger 
if the heavy gale did not abate. *' Could we but 
have Tell at the helm,'' he called out, amidst the 
roaring elements, '*he alone might avert the 
danger. His arm is most powerful, and he 
might bring the boat safely to shore. We 
cannot." 

Gessler, whose cowardice equaled his tyr- 
anny, began to fear for his life, and said : *'Tell, 
thinkest thou that, if thine arms were freed, thou 
could bring us safely across the lake .?*" ''By 
the help of God, I might," was the ready 
answer. No sooner was he unbound than his 
powerful arm steered the boat cleverly through 
the foaming waves, avoiding all the treacherous 
parts of the lake, which he had known all his 
life. But Tell thought less of the gale than of 
his chance to regain liberty ; and see how he 
managed it, by the help of God. 

He suddenly steered the boat close up to a 
projecting rock, to this day called Tellsplatte, 
boldly jumped on to it, having previously seized 



A Ibrecht and the Swiss. 1 69 

his crossbow, and, as swift as lightning, he got 
on shore. He then hid behind a rock which he 
knew Gessler must pass on his way to the castle, 
and there he heard him dilate to his followers 
on the torments he would inflict on Tell as soon 
as he caught him, which he could not fail to do. 
But, hark ! ere he had finished his speech, there 
came a hissing sound. What was it.-^ An ar- 
row flew through the air ; it was Tells arrow, 
and it smote the tyrant to the heart, and he 
lay prostrate at the feet of his own men. Oh ! 
how they and all the people rejoiced at being 
delivered from their cruel tyrant ! The three 
men who had taken an oath on the Riith to 
strive for the liberty of their enslaved country 
gladly set to work to attain it by forming the 
Swiss Federation, which exists to this day, and 
is respected by the whole world. 

The Swiss wars, I am sorry to say, extended 
over many years, and many deeds of bravery 
were done ere they ceased. Let me tell you 
about Arnold von Winkelried. He was one of a 
band of Swiss that were entirely hemmed in be- 
tween a powerful division of Austrian knights 
and a narrow valley. The lances of the moun- 
taineers splintered like glass against the steel 
cuirasses of the knights. About sixty of the 
brave Swiss had fallen, when Arnold von Wink- 
elried darted forth, crying : ' ^ Follow me, Swiss 



I/O Early German History, 

brethren ; my body shall open a passage for 
you ! Take care of my wife and child ! So 
saying, he seized a handful of lances from the 
astonished Austrians, pierced his own breast 
with them, and sank to the ground. A gap had 
been formed in the surprise of the moment, and 
the Swiss rushed through it, committing great 
havoc upon their enemies, and finally putting 
them to flight. 

You must know that not only the tyrant Gess- 
ler, but also the emperor, whom the people 
called '^ heart of adamant,'' met with an un- 
timely death. One of his nephews, John of 
Suabia, and some of his friends, had been 
robbed by Albrecht of their lands, so that they 
found themselves w^andering about as friendless 
exiles when they committed the murderous deed 
in 1308. 

There was much consultation as to what 
could be done after that, and, at last, a great 
meeting was called at a place called Rense, near 
Coblentz. The election of a new king took 
place there, in the open air, under the shade of 
some venerable old trees. 




CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

HOW ONE KING AT A TIME WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR 
THE GERMAN PEOPLE. 




HE mightiest bishops were all for setting 
aside the house of Austria. Albrecht 
had sprung from it, and his dreadful 
tyranny, as well as his insatiable avarice, were 
not so soon to be forgotten ; so they chose 
Count Henry, of Luxembourg, in 1309, who be- 
came King Henry VII. He won golden opinions 
at the beginning of his reign by removing the 
body of Adolf of Nassau from the convent, 
where he had been interred by order of Albrecht, 
and taking it to the cathedral of Spires. That 
was the royal burial place, and, having died a 
king, he was entitled to it. He and his fierce 
enemy, Albrecht, now lay side by side. 

Henry VII. had but a short and troublous 
reign. First, he tried to make peace in Italy ; 
and then he met with that scourge of mankind, 
the plague, in his Italian States, which all but 
annihilated his powerful army. His end was a 
sad one, for he was poisoned at Siena in August, 

171 



1/2 Early German History. 

^l^l^ after having fought bravely and ruled 
wisely for three years. 

There now ensued a complete state of an- 
archy. The quarrelsome Germans first debated 
for a whole twelvemonth as to who should be 
king, and then, not being able to agree, they did 
the very worst thing possible — they chose two 
different princes. Of course there arose two 
parties, the one obeying Ludwig, Duke of 
Bavaria, the other, Frederick of Austria. Every- 
thing went topsy-turvey. The knights rose 
against each other, the towns fell into endless 
wars, and the citizens as well as the farmers suf- 
fered in all manners of ways. 

Again one of the kings, Duke Frederick, of 
Austria, and his proud and tyrannous brother, 
Leopold, said they would show those wretched 
peasants (as they called the Swiss) what it was to 
vow allegiance to their enemy the rival king, Duke 
Ludwig, of Bavaria. They set forth with a splen- 
did array of knights and armed men, as though it 
would be an easy matter to conquer these simple 
shepherds and peasants. But it did not prove 
so in the end ; for the Swiss knew every creek 
and cranny in their mountain paths, and could 
cHmb them as lightly as the chamois, whilst the 
armor of the knights proved too heavy to allow 
them to pursue them. Then, when they had to 
pass through a valley, showers of stones and 



One king not enough, 173 

pieces of rock were hurled upon them from 
above, and killed them wholesale; and, at the 
famous battle of Mosgarten which ensued, the 
Austrians were completely routed by the vic- 
torious Swiss. 

As to the two kings, they kept up a cruel war- 
fare against each other for seven long years, 
and, at last, found themselves facing each other 
close to a place called Miihldorf, each of them 
being convinced of success, for both their armies 
were equal in power and number. Frederick 
was a fine man, and splendidly attired in gilt 
armor. He was impatient to attack Ludwig, 
although urged by his knights to await the ar- 
rival of some reinforcements that were hourly 
expected. " Delay is cowardice," said he ; and 
he fell upon the enemy. Ludwig thought it 
wise to appear in a common suit of mail, thus 
to avoid the enemy taking special aim at him ; 
and he fought bravely in the ranks, whilst an old 
and experienced leader, called Schweppermann, 
commanded the arm^y. Frederick and his 
knights were violently repulsed, and, when the 
Burgrave, Frederick of Hohenzollern, attacked 
them from behind, they lost the day. The king 
was conducted as a prisoner to the stronghold 
of Transnitz. 

Ludwig of Bavaria was not a little pleased 
with his clever old general, Schweppermann, 



174 Early German History. 

and made him sit down at his right hand when 
he and all his courtiers were resting from 
their fatigues, hoping to recruit their strength 
by a good and quiet meal. There was, how- 
ever, an entire dearth of provisions, and abso- 
lutely nothing but a dish of eggs could be set 
before the king. He began to count them. 
''Only one ^^^ apiece,'' said he, ''and one over. 
No, none over, for it is Schweppermann's, to all 
intents and purposes ; for, as he has done the 
most work, he must have the double share." 

Frederick being a prisoner, surely Ludwig 
might have enjoyed his kingship unmolested. 
But no ; for there was the Pope, John XXII. , and 
he would not let him. The Pope appointed the 
King of France to reign over Germany, which, 
of course, the people prevented. Then the Pope 
used his usual weapon — excommunication — 
against Ludwig, but he was nothing daunted by 
it, and declared the Pope had no right to make 
or unmake kings, and as to his sentence of ex- 
communication, who cared for that ? Wishing, 
however, to oppose him with might and main, 
he resolved to make peace with the valiant 
Frederick ; then the two kings might reign 
amicably together, and teach the Pope better. 
So he set off for Transnitz, and said to the poor 
prisoner, " I have come to set thee free ! " Fred- 
erick was moved by this generosity, and vowed 



One king not enough, 175 

that, in future, he would be his friend and ally. 
His brother, Leopold, however, would not hear 
of it, declaring that he would carry on the war 
until his brother had ascended the throne, whilst 
the Pope unbound him of the promise of allegi- 
ance given to Ludwig. 

But this did not suit Frederick. ''Let me re- 
turn to prison," said he to the king, ''for neither 
will I break my vow of assisting thee against 
thine enemies, nor will I wage war against my 
brother, and yet must I otherwise adopt one or 
the other of these courses." This speech moved 
Ludwig to tears ; he pressed Frederick to his 
heart, saying, "Come and let us share one 
crown, as, when lads, we used to share one 
table and one bed." It was really wicked to 
frustrate such good intentions, but the Pope did, 
for he wanted those two to be enemies, and not 
friends. But he could not prevent their settling 
that Frederick should reign in Germany and 
Ludwig in Italy. 

The Italians, who were to crown Ludwig, 
showed him neither sympathy nor respect, and 
his thirty-three years' reign proved, by no means, 
a prosperous one. Frederick had died long be- 
fore him ; the Pope had died, too, and Benedict 
XII. had succeeded. But the quarreling did not 
cease with these changes. The new Pope would 
not, on any account, acknowledge any king 



176 Early German History, 

chosen by the laity, and the people contended 
against the choice of the priests ; and, at last, 
they assembled at Rense, near Coblentz, and 
passed a law taking all elective power from the 
Pope, and conferring it on the nobles alone. 

King Ludwig met with his death while hunt- 
ing bears, and was not much regretted. He 
was too feeble to subdue the overbearing 
Popes, nor could he re-establish order in the 
convents. The monks and nuns, instead of 
leading a pious life within their walls, tending 
the sick and teaching the children, left their re- 
spective convents, and took to imitating the 
nobles in their luxurious and dissipated life, 
forgetting the times when pious men had built 
their houses for pious purposes, and also built 
many grand cathedrals. All nations differ in 
the outward form of their churches. The Chinese 
place dragons' heads at the corners of theirs ; 
the Arabs shape their entrances and windows 
like horseshoes ; the Turks put the crescent on 
the topmost part of their temples, and place 
small, delicate-looking turrets at the four cor- 
ners ; and the Russians, again, shape their 
domes and cupolas like an onion. The Ger- 
mans had their own made. They imitated the 
mighty forest, with high gates to enter in, high 
windows, slender pillars, lofty arches and roofs, 
and the tower flanking them much higher still, 



One king not enough. 177 

resembling a giant pine-tree, with no end of 
festoons and points to resemble the branches. 
There would be ornaments of flowers beauti- 
fully chiselled in stone, but the cross was 
always at the very top, pointing upwards, and 
the bells sounded aloft like angels' voices. 

They generally built cruciform churches ; that 
is, the ground-plan was shaped in the form of 
a cross, and they invariably placed the altar at 
the east end — at the side looking towards the 
land of their Saviour's birth. Of course the 
churches needed powerful supports on the out- 
side, called buttresses, and the taste of the 
times led to these being ornamented in the 
most fantastic manner. Dragons' heads and 
distorted faces would peep out at corners — 
asses' heads, with long ears, too; and many 
specimens of the brute creation, some of them 
frightful to behold, were here portrayed. " Did 
they not also belong to the works of God, and 
might not they keep watch outside } " was the 
architect's argument ; ''and might not whatever 
was repulsive on the outside tend to heighten 
the effect of the beauty of the inner part on 
entering the building?" And on the interior 
every care was bestowed, and the most elaborate 
ornamentation introduced, and much appreciated 
by the pious Germans of the fourteenth century. 




CHAPTER XXXIX. 

EMPEROR CHARLES IV. 1 $4 7* 

HAVE now to tell you of a king who 
came from Bohemia — a country which 
your map will show you lies in the 
centre of Germany, and yet is not German. The 
race, the language, and all the habits and cus- 
toms of this people are widely different from 
those of the Germans. The gypsies chiefly be- 
long to the Bohemians at the present day ; and, 
indeed, if you wished to denote a person who 
leads a roving life, you would say *' he is a very 
Bohemian,'' which would not confer much honor 
upon him. Then why choose a king of that 
race.? Well, only one small party did, while 
the rest swore allegiance to the rival king, and 
it was only at his death, after one years con- 
tested royalty, that our Bohemian king, Charles 
IV., could be solemnly crowned in 1347, in the 
cathedral of Aix-la-Chapelle. 

Whatever might be his race, he had many 
good qualities, besides springing from a German 

178 



Emperor Charles IV. 1 79 

father, whilst his mother only was a Bohemian 
princess. He loved her country more than that 
of his father and did not care much about Italy; 
so when once he had got himself crowned there, 
he made peace with the Pope and did not 
trouble the country with the warlike pro- 
pensities of former German emperors. He was 
essentially a man of letters ; and he founded the 
University of Prague, which soon became most 
celebrated through its learned professors and the 
distinguished men who had been students there. 

The king's endeavors did not stop there, for 
he wanted all classes of Bohemians to improve, 
and he sent for clever architects, farmers and 
workmen of all sorts from Germany and had his 
people taught by them. Being himself well 
versed in the intricacies of the law, he wrote a 
new code by which malefactors were to be 
judged, and he himself sat in the market-place 
to enforce it against traitors. Of course, his own 
people loved and respected their wise king, 
whilst the Germans were moved by jealousy and 
began to hate him and fear that Bohemia would 
become mightier than Germany. 

It seemed as if every sort of misfortune was 
to be showered upon that poor country. First 
on a fine summer's day the sky became clouded 
— not by thunder-clouds, but by a legion of 
locusts that spread utter darkness upon the land 



i8o Early German History. 

and settled upon fields and gardens, and in the 
course of a few hours completely destroyed the 
ripening corn as well as the fruit of the orchards. 
This, of course, was the cause of much dearth, 
and as incessant rains greatly injured the next 
year's harvest, a famine followed and increased 
the evil. As if this was not enough, earthquakes 
occurred in Switzerland and Austria. Houses 
and churches were thrown down and many 
citizens buried beneath their ruins ; whilst the 
survivors were injured by the stones and mortar 
which fell upon them from the crumbling 
houses, and, crippled and wounded, they also be- 
came houseless beggars, having lost their all. 
'' Enough misery, indeed ! " I hear you say, 
''poor creatures, nothing can be worse ! " And 
yet worse was in store for them. For now the 
plague broke out, that frightful sickness which 
in a few hours carries off the rich and poor, the 
old and young, parents and children, masters 
and servants, and in one day mercilessly sweeps 
away all the tenants of a house, turning a happy 
home into a desolate waste. Thousands and 
hundreds of thousands died in Germany, and 
the survivors took it into their distracted heads 
that the only way to escape further scourges was 
by self-punishment. 

So they formed the order of the Flagellants ; 
going about from town to town, and patiently 



Emperor Charles IV. i8i 

offering their naked backs to each other to be 
scourged till the rods became covered with the 
blood flowing from their lacerated bodies. Then 
in their benighted ideas they thought to please 
God by forcibly expelling the Jews from Ger- 
many. They were clever doctors, learned men 
or traders, doing no harm, but, in fact, benefit- 
ing the country by their skill and knowledge. 
Yet they were driven from their homes, 
after having suffered every possible cruelty, and 
thousands of them were put to death. The em- 
peror felt how entirely these fanatics were act- 
ing against the will of God and the tenets of the 
Christian religion, and he tried to put a stop to 
all this ; but many had suffered ere he could re- 
lieve them, and the dead were not to be recalled 
to life. 

When order had at last been restored, Charles 
IV. went to Metz (then a German town, French 
since, and regained by Germany in 1 871), to 
settle by law the way in which a new emperor 
was to be chosen. It was stipulated that seven 
electoral princes of the realm were the only ones 
entitled to consult about the choice, and having 
agreed about it were to see the chosen king 
crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle. When this law had 
been written down, the emperor and the seven 
electoral princes affixed their signatures to it, the 
large imperial seal was pressed in wax on paper, 



1 82 Early German History, 

and to preserve it from injury it was placed in a 
golden capsule, henceforth named the Golden 
Bull. 

''Business first and then pleasure" seemed to 
be the king's motto, for scarcely had this matter 
been settled than he gave a splendid entertain- 
ment for the people. He and the empress, fol- 
lowed by nobles and courtiers, proceeded to the 
market-place, where a dais had been erected 
for them, rivaling in splendor their own rich 
attire. Seated on their throne, they had the 
Golden Bull read aloud to the assembled people, 
and then sat down to a banquet open to the 
whole crowd of spectators. Three of the elect- 
oral princes were churchmen, the bishops of 
Treves, Cologne and Mayence. The four others, 
lay princes, had for the first time to serve their 
majesties according to the stipulations of the 
Golden Bull. One of them had to tender the 
wine in golden goblets, a second one had to 
carry in and present the savory viands in four 
silver dishes, a third one had to offer a golden 
basin to the imperial pair for the washing of 
hands, and the fourth one had to bring them a 
silver measure filled with oats. All this looked 
grand ; but it proved too grand to be last- 
ing ; for it created envy, and envy once more 
ended in civil war, that bane of nations on 
which I hate to dwell. 



Emperor Charles IV, 183 

So, let me tell you of some inventions of this 
period instead. Powder was invented about 
this time by a monk named Berthold Schwarz. 
It soon did away with lances, bows and arrows, 
axes and heavy iron or steel armor, for gun- 
powder could soon shatter them to pieces, so it 
was no use to be encumbered with their weight. 
Another and more peaceful invention was that 
of making paper from old rags ; seemingly use- 
less articles are reduced by boiling to a stiff pap; 
and if you have never seen the process and all 
the rest of the proceedings of our much-im- 
proved paper mills, I hope you will soon have 
an opportunity of doing so. 

You would never think that the Emperor 
Charles IV., with all his learning and splendor, 
could be a wag also, but as such I am now go- 
ing to introduce him to you. He had a Major- 
domo at one of his castles, whom he valued 
greatly as a faithful and trustworthy retainer, yet 
he could not resist playing him a trick. One 
day, knowing that this Dietrich Kagelwit did not 
expect him, and consequently would have an 
empty larder and no messenger to despatch for 
provisions, he sent him word that he meant to 
dine at the castle with a famishing hunting 
train, and that he must be well prepared 
for their appetites. And so he was, to the em- 
peror's infinite surprise. The truth is that Kag- 



1 84 Early German History. 

elwit had all his pigs' ears cut off on the spot, 
and under his superintendence the most savory 
and diversified dishes had been prepared from 
them ! The king was charmed with his repast, 
and indulged in a hearty laugh when he was let 
into the secret. '^ Thou art too clever," said he, 
''to be entrusted with only one castle; hence- 
forward thou shalt take care of a bishop's see," 
and there and then elected him Bishop of Min- 
den. 




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CHAPTER XL. 

KING WENCESLAUS AND EMPEROR SIGISMUND 

I378-I4IO. 

HE king made the princes promise to 
set his son Wenceslaus upon the throne, 
and this youth became king when he 
was eighteen years old, at his father s death in 
1378. 

He was clever and had been well ^Drought up 
by Charles IV. , but his temper was fiery and cruel, 
and he lacked sobriety; and when his potations 
had been too deep, his passions took complete 
possession of him. He is said to have had the 
hangman for his boon companion, and to have 
kept a pack of fierce hounds about him ready to 
tear his enemies to pieces at a sign, so that even 
his queen was not always safe. 

You know the town of Prague is the capital 
of Bohemia. Well, if you should ever travel that 
way, your Murray will draw your attention to the 
old bridge over the river Moldau, a fine piece of 
antiquity, with an ancient statue of St. Nepomuk 
standing on it. There hangs a tale by that 

185 



1 86 Early German History. 

statue, relating to King Wenceslaus. *' He 
wanted," says an old chronicler, "to extort the 
queen's secrets from her confessor, Nepomuk, 
but that concientious priest strenuously refused 
to betray anything confided to him at the con- 
fessional ; whereupon the king had him thrown 
from the bridge into the river, whence he was 
carried on angels' wings into heaven." The 
whole story has been much doubted, but the 
cruel Wenceslaus was capable of the horrible 
deed ; and the angelic intervention is quite in 
the spirit of the times, the people being pleased 
to make a saint of their much-injured Nepomuk. 
Certain it is that they hated Wenceslaus more 
and more, and at last deposed him in favor of 
Ruprecht. 'Then finding that matters did not 
mend, but that petty warfare between the 
nobles and the towns went on worse than ever, 
they elected Sigismund in 14 lo for their king. 
He was the younger brother of Wenceslaus. 

Sigismund was a handsome, clever young 
man, and he did his very best to keep the throne 
to himself, in which he dexterously succeeded. 
He also repelled the Turks, who threatened to 
invade Germany. But it took him a long time 
to get the better of the three Popes then fighting 
in the most barbarous manner as to which 
should remain the head of the Church, and be ac- 
knowledged as such, yet all of them leading most 



Wenceslaus and Sigismund. 1 87 

ungodly lives which commanded no respect. At 
last there came a change. Pious men arose to 
mend matters, first of all in England. Then John 
Huss came among the eight thousand students 
of the University of Prague, and he was so 
clever in church matters, and so anxious to re- 
store the true faith that he was named teacher 
of religion at the University. 

John Huss preached fearlessly against the 
abuses in the Church, and exhorted the people 
to return to the divine precepts of their Saviour. 
He entreated them to scorn the idle, dissipated 
life in which the Pope and clergy indulged, and 
turn their thoughts to holy writ. The people 
flocked to his sermons, and even the Queen 
listened to them with due attention; but the 
clergy called him an apostate, and wanted him 
to go to Rome and speak in his own defence. 
This he refused to do, but he proposed to speak 
his mind before an assembly of all the church 
dignitaries in the German realm. 

Then the Emperor Sigismund resolved to con- 
voke such an assembly at Constance, which the 
Pope, John XXIIL, as well as the cardinals, 
bishops and priests were invited to attend. They 
came in great splendor, proud of their learning 
and state, which they paraded proudly, and the 
knights and nobles, and even the simple 
burghers, also attended. And who is that man 



1 88 Early German History. 

sitting in the dark attire in the midst of these 
gaily-decked cardinals and these knights in 
shining armor ? His mien is firm but modest, 
and but for a few trusty friends who have accom- 
panied him to Constance, he stands isolated in 
this vast assembly. It is John Huss. He knows 
himself to be surrounded by enemies, and little 
does he trust them, but the king has sent him a 
safe conduct. That was a letter which guaran- 
teed Huss's life and personal safety, and the king 
had signed it and the great imperial seal was 
affixed to it. This made him feel quite safe. 

The assembly at Constance began by deposing 
the three Popes, and John XXIII. — the only one 
present — sought his safety in flight, and expected 
his friend, Duke Frederick of Austria, to reinstate 
him in his rights. This, however, was impossible, 
since the sovereigns of Europe declared they 
would make war upon the duke if he did not 
deliver up the Pope into their hands. Of course 
he had to do so, and John became their prisoner. 

The conclave was not long in turning to Huss 
and desiring him to defend his tenets. **I\Iy 
tenets are those of my Saviour," began Huss. " I 
preach but that which stands in Holy Writ." But 
scarcely had he uttered these words when the 
cardinals and bishops made a great outcry 
against him. '' He was a blasphemer, a rene- 
gade ; let him recant! Let him promise never 



Wenceslaus and Sigismund, 189 

again to preach or they would burn him alive." 
Huss could not and would not promise — could 
not and would not recant — but said he would 
sacrifice his life to the truth of his convictions. 
''Then away with him to the scaffold," roared 
the incensed priests. And in spite of the safe- 
conduct, with the imperial seal appended to it, 
he was dragged off to prison, and died a martyr 
in the flames, in 1414. In order that not a vestige 
of him might remain, his enemies had the ashes 
of his poor calcined body thrown into the Rhine. 

The emperor who had quietly permitted this 
deed of horror, as quietly allowed the new Pope, 
Martin V., to dissolve the church conclave with- 
out any amendment in church matters, or any 
reform in the lives of the clergy. 

Huss was dead, but the truths he had preached 
were not ; they survived in his pupils and ad- 
herents. Ere long these had found two enthusi- 
astic leaders named Ziska and Prokop. They 
vowed to sacrifice their property as well as their 
lives for the new faith of their martyred teacher ; 
but fire and sword were their only weapons, 
and poor Bohemia soon stood in awe of these 
wild fanatics, who thus began that most terrible 
of wars called the Hussite war. "Believe in 
what Huss taught or we shall give you no quar- 
ter" — that was their password while scouring 
the country, burning towns and villages and 



190 Early German History. 

killing thousands of innocent people. Once, as 
they came before the town of Nuremberg, on 
the river Saale, they declared it doomed to utter 
destruction, and vain were the entreaties of 
some of the chief citizens to desist and show 
mercy. Then the inhabitants bethought them- 
selves that perhaps the tyrant, Prokop, might 
relent before innocent children. They accord- 
ingly sent all their young ones, barefoot and 
robed in white, to the tormentor, and behold ! 
when they fearlessly sued for a reprieve he could 
not resist and spared the town. But alas ! that 
was only one instance of leniency among thous- 
ands of cruelty. The Hussites had a peculiar 
mode of warfare, too, which rendered it impos- 
sible for the Emperor Sigismund and his army to 
get the better of them. But at last the awful 
tyrant, Prokop, died, and the valiant Ziska 
lost both his eyes. But even when blind 
he used to go to the battle-field and arouse 
the courage of his army to desperate fight. 
When about to die he said: ''Take my skin, 
cover a drum with it, and when you hear 
its sound know that I am still leading you on to 
victory." The Hussites, being deprived of their 
leaders, at last became tired of war, and a tardy 
peace was concluded between them and the 
emperor. 

I have spoken to you of the good qualities of 



Wenceslaus and Sigismund. 



191 



Sigismund, but I must own to his having had 
bad ones too. He was vain, and loved to spend 
enormous sums upon his own pleasure. And he 
had basely betrayed the noble Huss, and thus 
brought endless misery upon Bohemia as well 
as Germany. His vanity kept its hold upon 
him, even in his last hours. He had himself 
arrayed in his most costly garments, decked 
himself with the insignia of royalty, and thus sat 
in a chair awaiting death. He had ordered, too, 
that his corpse should be exhibited thus for two 
or three days that it might be admired even after 
death. Little did he remember his impotence in 
dealing with the fanatics of Bohemia, and the 
dreadful war he had caused by sacrificing Huss. 
He was the last of the line of Luxembourg 
princes, and the puzzling question as to who 
should now become king once more arose. 



CHAPTER XLI. 



THE ''VEHMGERICHT/' 




OU have become aware, I am sure, that 
the people in the twelfth, thirteenth 
and fourteenth centuries were rather 
an unruly set; that justice was done in a most 
inefficient manner ; and that the good emperor, 
Rudolf von Hapsburg, tried to remedy this evil, 
but that weaker monarchs, like Ludwig of 
Bavaria, and others, undid all the good which 
had been laid down by law. 

Then the people tried to put a stop to crime 
and violence by establishing new tribunals, in- 
exorable in their dealings, and not responsible to 
any authority. The criminal, wherever he 
might hide, was forcibly dragged to light, and 
mercilessly condemned. These tribunals were 
called the *'Vehme," and at first did some good 
by filling traitors with awe, knowing, as they 
did, that their crime would be detected. But 
soon the judges abused their uncontrolled 
power by the secrecy in which they wrapped their 

192 



The Vehmgericht, 193 

doings. Their meetings were held at night, in 
a room hung with black, and but dimly lighted, 
or in some dark cavern or ruin, and the judges 
wore masks and were robed in black. Fancy 
an accused man (too often innocent), dragged 
from his bed, his eyes bandaged, that he might 
not know whither he was taken, his mouth 
gagged, that he might not call out for assistance; 
then, at the end of his journey, being allowed to 
recover his sight and speech, only to find him- 
self terror-stricken at the aspect of judges whom 
he knew to be as unjust as inexorable. He 
might feel his innocence, and be well aware 
that petty jealousy or revenge had caused 
his accusation before the tribunal of the Vehme, 
yet would the words of defence die on his lips 
as he found his vindication more and more use- 
less, and his loneliness, bereft of friends and re- 
lations ready and able to speak in his favor, 
more and more heart-rending. 

The Vehme had its tribunals in almost 
every German town, and it often happened 
that an intimate conversation at a festive 
board, where the wine had loosened men's 
tongues, was betrayed to the Vehme by some 
ill-natured guest, and led to martyrdom and 
death. A man, the father of a family, might to- 
day enjoy happiness, and even honors ; to- 
morrow he was gone, nobody knew whither. 



194 Early German History. 

He had been secretly carried off in the night, 
never to return. 

Another evil, equal to the Vehme in power, 
was the wretched superstition of the people, who 
believed in witchcraft, and suspected witches in 
the most innocent people. The moment a doubt 
was raised, the so-called witches or sorcerers 
were dragged before the Vehme, and, after being 
tortured to make them confess their malpractices, 
and unable to assert their innocence, they were 
declared the most hard-hearted sinners, and then 
burnt alive. The inhabitants of a community 
and the village neighbors, instead of assisting 
each other in times of illness or misfortune, mis- 
trusted one another, and declared their child had 
fallen ill, or their harvest turned out a bad one, 
from the witchcraft of that ugly old woman, 
their neighbor. If she squinted, the peasant 
said she had cast an evil eye on his cow, that 
ceased at once to give milk on being bewitched. 
If she happened to limp, she was said to have a 
cloven foot, and, if she was bent with age, she 
was declared to be humpbacked as a mark of 
her wickedness ; and, if the poor old thing had 
just bought a new broom, and was carrying it 
home, they were sure she was going to ride on 
it to Blocksberg to meet her hateful confederates, 
for witches always rode through the air on 
broomsticks. Then a cry would be raised 



The Vehmgericht. 



195 



through the village to catch her before she could 
fly off and escape her just punishment, and she 
was dragged to the Vehme to meet her miserable 
fate. Would you believe that it is only a hun- 
dred years ago that the last witch was burnt at 
Wurzburg ? Let us be thankful that the Vehme, 
as well as the behef in witchcraft and demon- 
ology, have vanished from the face of the earth. 







1^^ ^.^.^^ ^,^, ^ ^p,,^ ^p,p-^^,p,p,,j^p,^,p,.,^,^p, p^p„^,^,^T^ 




CHAPTER XLIL 

PASTIMES IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 

ET US turn from cruelty and injustice to 
pastimes and sports, such as the Ger- 
mans loved about four hundred years 

ago. 

I have told you of the merry life which princes, 
knights and nobles used to lead in splendid 
castles ; of tournaments, where they showed 
their prowess in mock fights, and, if victorious, 
received the laurel from lovely ladies casting 
sweet looks on them ; of long and gaudy trains, 
in which knights and ladies combined to hunt 
with the falcon or pursue the swift stag ; you 
have seen them lazily extended on green 
meadows, listening to tuneful music, or to the 
poetic effusion of some knight. They would in- 
dulge, too, in a game at ball, or, if they wanted 
to have a dance on the lawn, they would get a 
prince or noble to lead off the pairs by song or 
violin. You are aware, I know, that the so- 
called grand people had plenty of diversion, but 

196 



Pastimes in the Middle Ages. 197 

now I want you to enter with me into the 
amusements of the burghers and country people 
at fairs and rehgious fetes, of which there was 
no lack, for they recurred periodically. 

At all fetes the churches were gaily decked, 
music resounded, and an earnest observer might 
have doubted whether heavenly thoughts filled 
the minds of that crowd, who were seemingly 
intent upon pleasure only. As to fairs, they 
were the means of bringing foreign folks and the 
produce of their countries together. There was 
then no communication by coach or rail, no 
ships flying in the teeth of adverse winds by the 
help of that powerful giant, steam ; and as to 
roads, they were so bad as to baffle description. 
Men did, however, brave these traveling diffi- 
culties in order to visit the fairs at stated times, 
bringing their wares in the hope of gain and 
mutual exchange ; to say nothing of the pleasure 
of meeting old friends and making new acquaint- 
ances, and spending days of festivity and diver- 
sion with them. Of course it was not the winter 
season which they chose for their travels, for 
wolves might have waylaid them, and heavy rains 
made the ruts in the roads impassable. In winter 
even the nobles shut themselves up, and a sad life 
was theirs when they could not follow the chase. 
The lady of the manor or her confessor might 
perhaps be in possession of one book, a single 



198 Early German History, 

one, which they had read no end of times, while 
the lord of the manor had never attained to the 
accompHshment of deciphering it. 

But when the month of May came ,into the 
land with its green meadows, its budding 
flowers and running brooks, there was great 
rejoicing among high and low. The warbling 
of the birds often mingled with the clank of arms 
being polished and divested of their winter rust ; 
the baronial halls were decked with gaily-colored 
carpets or strewn with fresh grass and scented 
flowers ; the festive garments were released from 
their winter's confinement and all things pre- 
pared for the reception of guests; while traveling 
minstrels, pedlers and merry-andrews were not 
long in reappearing in town and country. Well 
might the month of May be hailed with delight 
at that time, for it was the messenger of joy to 
those who could not charm away the dullness of 
winter by such balls, concerts and friendly meet- 
ings as we are able to have in our days of good 
roads and easy traveling. 

But then you should have seen the people as 
they broke loose on ist May, singing and play- 
ing and dancing and crowning each other with 
the young leaves of the forest, and, on their 
return laden with the spoil of trees and flowers to 
deck their homes. These festive rejoicings in the 
forest had their origin in an ancient heathen 



Pastimes in the Middle Ages. 199 

custom,^ and were not unlike the English Guy 
Fawkes' doings. A large straw doll or figure, 
used then to be burned or drowned ; it repre- 
sented Winter and must be thoroughly destroyed, 
whilst lovely Spring was represented by charm- 
ing girls and boys enveloped in flowers and led 
in procession from village to forest. Many a 
staid burgher would be seen on ist May riding 
to the forest, preceded by two lovely boys 
adorned with flowers and wreaths. The evening 
was one of great hilarity. A ''May-Count," 
chosen by the throng, presided over the meal, 
which often outstripped the bounds of what we 
should call good-breeding, but the authorities 
did not put a stop to these outbreaks. Let every- 
one enjoy the new-born Spring ! it was a present 
to old and young, to rich and poor, and why 
should their enjoyment be checked.? 

But the merriest time of all was the Carnival. 
Maybe you have seen somethingof it at Cologne 
or at Rome, but at any rate you must have heard 
and read about it. There were then, as now, 
men, women and children in fanciful dresses 
playing all sorts of tricks ; running about the 
streets, entering houses, yelling and dancing to 
the sound of pipes, drums and fiddles. At night 
they made torch-light processions, and their 
carousals generally ended in drunkenness. The 
quieter burghers as well as the magistrates would 



200 Early German History. 

oppose them in this, but to little purpose, for 
every public or private festivity was the signal 
for unbounded revelry, and even burials were 
no longer exempt from becoming the occasion 
of splendid repasts at which sorrow was drowned 
in deep potations. 

At Easter, Whitsuntide and Midsummer enor- 
mous bonfires were kindled in market-places ; 
and Augsburg once saw the king's son lead the 
dance round the flaming pile with a noble lady. 
Rather a hot diversion, I should think ! As to 
King Sigismund, he was not always the grave 
personage you saw him at the conclave of 
Constance ; he used to enter into the pleasures of 
a merry day, and show every attention to the 
ladies. So one day, at Augsburg, a procession 
of them penetrated into the king's apartments, 
and did not leave until they had got him to dance 
with them through the town in his dressing- 
gown and red slippers. That was a sight, in- 
deed! 

As to the love of wine, it was paramount, and 
the vine-growers used to foster it. Whoever 
had made wine was allowed to sell it on his 
premises, and if the people passed a house with 
a green wreath or a bundle of straw hung out- 
side they would turn in, — nobles, burghers, ar- 
tisans — for they knew that a new barrel had 
just been tapped and that they could buy and 



Iw 



Pastimes in the Middle Ages, 201 

drink freely. Sometimes criers were employed 
to attract the passers-by, calling out the price of 
the much coveted beverage ; at others, the bar- 
rels would be placed in the very street, men, 
women and children squatting- round it and in- 
viting their friends to carouse with them. At 
Ulm three days of the year were set apart by the 
magistrates for this noble custom, but when it 
brought about brawls and riots, the fathers of 
the town wisely tried to put a stop to it, with 
small success, however. They had to contend 
with senators, knights and princes, bishops and 
abbots, who, in the love of drink, became the 
most enthusiastic leaders of the people. 

It was not considered derogatory to anyone's 
dignity to have committed an excess at a feast, 
but on the contrary, the grandees ordered ser- 
vants with litters to attend and see therrt safely 
back, as they were convinced beforehand that 
walking would be out of the question. You 
must not however, accuse the ancient Germans 
of being habitual drunkards, although there 
might be exceptions, like the famous Count 
Gorz. He is said to have indulged in potations 
not only from morning till night, but also be- 
tween naps in the hours allotted for sleep; and he 
declared his sons would never become a credit 
to their nobility, since they were able to sleep 
all night without drinking. 



202 Early German History, 

As to the citizens, they were much too orderly 
and industrious to waste their time and strength 
and money in the carousings of the squires; 
they were working hard, and they only indulged 
themselves on high days and holidays. In those 
times there was neither tea nor coffee, and it 
was natural they should resort to wine and beer. 
Princes and nobles would now and then hold a 
tournament, or celebrate a wedding in a town, 
and thus bring about grand sights for the bur- 
ghers, who, in their turn received the guests in 
the most pleasant way. They took care of their 
safety and quartered them in the best possible 
manner, either in town, or for want of room, in 
tents erected outside it expressly for the occa- 
sion. Each noble guest was presented with a 
gift as well as an excellent glass of wine; and to 
avoid disturbance from a disorderly mob the city 
gates were doubly guarded and protected. No 
wonder the nobles would in return honor the 
burghers and grant them privileges, for they had 
power, although no money. 

They loved to shine in the splendor of their 
retinue, and would bring as many as a thousand 
horse, and be decked with gold and pearls and 
diamonds, whilst they knew that nothing could 
redeem their fallen fortunes, and that they were 
a prey to usurers. They knew that while min- 
strels, won over by presents, were singing 



Pastimes in the Middle Ages. 203 

their praises, Jews and Lombards were waiting 
for them and calculating upon the downfall of 
their victims. Nevertheless, these same nobles 
allowed beer and wine to flow day and night 
in the market place from ever-flowing springs ; 
oxen were roasted whole ; small coins were 
dropped in the streets, and the people fought 
as to who should get most beer, wine, meat or 
money, and found no rest either day or night. 
As to the princely meals, they were served on 
silver dishes, flanked by silver tankards. Pea- 
cocks served whole with outspread tails graced 
the table, and cunning confectioners would 
make their cakes appear in the shape of castles 
or brigs ornamented with flags. There were 
musicians and merry-andrews to while away 
the hours. 

It was about this time that the citizens began 
to vie with the nobles in meetings, which later 
on became archery meetings, and which we like 
to this day. 

But now listen, for I am going to tell you 
about another ancient custom, which fortunately 
did not survive to our time. A household en- 
tirely ruled by the wife, while the husband 
quietly submitted to her scolding, screaming and 
beating, was, according to the ancient Germans, 
to be publicly exposed. The suitable punish- 
ment, as soon as the vixe7i and the noodle had 



204 



Early German History. 



been found out, was to put her on a donkey arid 
make himViwi^ promenade her through the town, 
the people pelting the devoted pair so lustily that 
the donkey would resent a treatment which was 
equally inconvenient to himself, and would kick 
and plunge and imperil the safety of man and 
wife. The people loved to expose culprits to 
the fury of the multitude, which we now con- 
sider a barbarous proceeding. Thieves and 
malefactors were condemned to be hooted at in 
the pillory, or ducked in ponds in a net or bas- 
ket. Although we know better than that, yet 
there is room for the improvements still, which 
wise legislators are endeavoring to bring about. 



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CHAPTER XLin. 



EMPERORS ALBRECHT II. AND FREDERICK III. 




E have left the Germans at the death 
of King Sigismund uneasy about the 
new choice they had to make, and at 
last they came to the conclusion that Sigis- 
mund s son-in-law, an Austrian Prince, deserved 
to be elected; so on him was bestowed the title 
of Albrecht 11. ; and a good thing it would have 
been for Germany if this good and wise king 
had not been snatched away by death after 
reigning two years. 

Then Frederick HI. became king and reigned 
no less than fifty-three years, but being of an 
indolent nature he did no good to the nation. 
Where another man would have acted, he gave 
himself up to considering in a most dilatory 
manner on the subject. They nicknamed him 
''the royal nightcap," and well did he deserve 
the name, for during the first twenty-seven 
years of his long reign he had not even shown 
sufficient energy to visit all his realm; but keep- 

205 



2o6 Early German History. 

ing in the one province, he sent delegates to the 
distant countries, who, seeing the ''father of the 
people " totally unconcerned about their wel- 
fare, did not strive to make amendments where 
they were needed. 

No wonder that the Turks again thought the 
time propitious for their warlike propensities. 
They had conquered Constantinople without op- 
position, and were now besieging Belgrade, but 
although this town was on the confines of Hun- 
gary (the stepping-stone to Germany), Frederick 
did not stir. He had promised to relieve Belgrade, 
but his troops never arrived, and but for the Hun- 
garian governor, Hunyadi, who knows what the 
fierce Turks might not have achieved.'^ This 
brave patriot got the whole of Hungary to rise 
as one man, and heading the army himself he 
contrived to ward off the danger until the listless 
king sent troops. Then at last the Turks were 
routed and forced to fly back to their own coun- 
try. 

The German parhament (Reichstag) soon lost 
caste under the bad government of King Fred- 
erick HI. The princes as well as the clergy 
had the upper hand, and when a grand assembly 
was convoked at Basle to reform the heinous 
abuses of the Church, the king allowed it to con- 
sult and plan for fourteen long years without 
coming to any conclusion. 



Albrecht II. and Frederick II L 207 

Frederick also displeased his German subjects 
by calling in the aid of the French to wage war 
against the brave Swiss. He did it to little pur- 
pose, for he and his allies were thoroughly 
defeated at the battle of St. Jacob, while the 
Swiss carried the day. Then there arose a 
mighty enemy in the Duke of Burgundy, Charles 
the Bold, to whom the whole of what is now the 
Kingdom of Belgium belonged, together with 
the Duchy of Burgundy and many other rich 
provinces of France. Being ambitious to obtain 
some possessions in Germany as well, he soon 
headed a large army and began to molest the 
rich towns. But he had reckoned without his 
host, for they opposed him with great energy, 
and by their joint efforts made him desist, hum- 
bled and defeated, plainly showing him that he 
had men to deal with and not only the '^night- 
cap king/' 

Then Charles, thirsting for conquest, turned 
against the Swiss, but was also beaten by them 
near a place called Granson, where, when he 
fled he left treasure in silver and gold and precious 
stones, his golden chair and even his hat with 
the ducal crown. This was an insult he could 
not brook. Where were his much-renowned 
valor and the dreaded army under his own com- 
mand, and the unerring dexterity of his marks- 
men ? He must teach this miserable peasantry 



2o8 Early German History. 

to dread him, he said, but the miserable peas- 
antry defeated him again and again; until at 
last he was killed at the battle of Nancy, and 
there was an end of his vaunted bravery. Bold as 
he had been, he could no longer look down with 
overbearing pride on the brave men staking 
their Hves for the Hberty of their own country. 

His vast possessions were left to his only 
daughter, ]Maria of Burgundy, and King Fred- 
erick succeeded in bringing about a marriage 
between this rich heiress and his son Max. 
Frederick now indulged more than ever in his 
silly pursuit of making gold, in which he was 
assisted by common swindlers and adventurers 
who encouraged him to fill and refill his pans 
and crucibles in the hope of finding the desired 
gold in their mixtures. But of course the gold 
never appeared, and the time as well as the 
money so much needed for nobler pursuits had 
been simply disgracefully wasted. Then the 
king became an astrologer, another idle and 
irreligious study; for how can man prophesy 
the fate of individuals or nations from certain 
constellations, while God alone in his mighty 
power rules the destinies of mankind } 

Frederick had a great love of riches, and 
would sometimes visit his affluent towns for 
the sake of the gifts which it was the custom to 
bestow upon the monarch on such occasions. 



Albrecht IL and Frederick III, 209 

The townspeople, however, knowing what he 
came for, would often withhold the present and 
would even refuse to allow -horses for his car- 
riage and only permit oxen to drive the king 
when he had refused to pay his own and his 
followers' expenses. 

His end was also hastened by a habit which he 
had had all his life. He would never shut a 
door but by pushing it with his foot, and once 
he hurt his foot severely by doing so. It had to 
be cut off, and, being seventy-nine years old, he 
died in consequence of the operation. 

Does any one you know indulge in the habit 
of banging doors 1 If so, do warn them. Not 
that everybody must lose a limb and die in con- 
sequence, but, at any rate, it is a bad habit, and 
unnecessarily startling to the other inmates of 
the house. 




^^^,^,^-^.^-^.^,^,^^j^,^^^,;^.^^,-,^-^ 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



THE POOR SCHOLARS. 




HAVE told you about the ignorance of 
the hunting,drinking and fighting squires 
in the Middle Ages, yet you must not sup- 
pose that a// men were hunting, drinking and fight- 
ing, like these squires. On the contrary, the stu- 
dents of the universities founded by Charles IV. of 
Bohemia had been spreading much knowledge 
amongst the people, and many a herd-boy, mind- 
ing his geese or goats, and many a village 
schoolmaster's son, had heard of men having 
risen to honors and riches by their learning, and 
why should not they do likewise? Learning 
could be acquired at schools in towns like 
Wittenberg, Halle, Leipsic or Prague, and they 
became ambitious to go in quest of it. To 
be sure, they had not a farthing wherewith 
to clothe or feed themselves, much less to buy 
the necessary books — but what of that ? They 
would beg from door to door, and having sung 
at church, they earned many a coin or dinner, or 

2IO 



I 



The Poor Scholars, 211 

an old coat, at the doors of rich people who de- 
lighted in the clear, sonorous voices of the poor 
lads. But only think ! soon the elder members 
of this fraternity* began to tyrannize over 
the younger ones. '*Beg for us/' said they, 
'* while we rest ; you may be hungry, but so are 
we ; you must feed us first, and do not attempt 
to eat behind our backs ; woe betide you if you 
do ! If charitable folk should happen to bestow 
shoes or a coat upon you, because your singing 
pleases them, you must run barefoot and give 
these things to us. Give up to us the beds they 
offer, andjyou can go and find some corner of the 
street to sleep in, or a churchyard wall to shelter 
you." Or if a herd of geese happened to pass, 
they cried: *' Quick, boys! run and steal one! 
We want it to roast in the wood when you have 
gathered sticks for the fire ; we will feast upon 
it and perhaps leave you a bone to pick." If 
they came in sight of a farm-yard, the elder lads 
said: "Creep through the railings, boys, and 
steal some eggs for us, but look sharp! for if 
the farmer finds you out, he will give you a lick- 
ing, and no mistake!" 

Of course many of these poor boys fell into 
evil ways in consequence, and after stealing for 
others took to steaHng for themselves ; but by 
far the greater number learned to despise injus- 
tice and dishonesty, and came triumphantly out 



212 Early German History. 

of their troubles. Never were any more thrifty 
than they whilst pursuing their studies ; they 
were happy to get even one change of linen, 
or a mess of porridge to feed on, or some clean 
straw in a garret to sleep upon. And thus some 
of them became great and wise men, who never 
forgot the charitable men and women who had 
clothed, fed and sheltered them in their distress. 
Before the invention of printing, which took 
place sixty years after the death of Charles IV., 
studying was most troublesome and expensive. 
Even when there were printed books to be 
bought, there were so few of them that a poor 
student could not afford to get them. Their pro- 
fessors possessed them and they were allowed 
to copy their contents. But only look at the 
heaps of books you require for getting a knowl- 
edge of ancient and modern history, of foreign 
lands and their produce, or of their flora and 
fauna. The Bible, that most sacred of books, 
could only be read by churchmen ; and oral 
tradition (which is so often perverted) was all 
that reached the multitude. But, as I said be- 
fore, many of the students were indefatigable, 
and in spite of want and misery, and in spite of 
the hard task of copying out books, they became 
learned men, and spread their learning over the 
whole of Germany. It soon became renowned 
for its celebrated men, who were very different 



The Poor Scholars. 



213 



from the ancient Germans with whom these tales 
began. The history of the Middle Ages has been 
hitherto of the knights and their prowess ; the 
kings and popes and their everlasting feuds ; 
the nobles and burghers, and the large towns 
threatened by the fierce plunderers in the high- 
ways and by-ways. 




' ■'r^rJr^ rJrJrJrJrJr^ l ^yr^r-frJ^r^_r^r^r^r^rJr^rJr^r±rJr^rJrJr^rJ 





CHAPTER XLV. 

EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN 1493 TO I519. 

low we have come to the last king of 
that period, the brave King Maximihan, 
the son of Frederick III. 
He was quite a hero, generous and affable, 
and neither indolent nor proud like his father. 
But he did not know the value of money, and 
spent immense sums to gratify the people, in 
whose towns he happened to stay, in splendid 
feasts and sights — little thinking that he was con- 
stantly emptying his purse and never re-filling 
it. He was a very Nimrod in his love of the 
chase, and a Hercules in the pursuit of wild 
beasts. Thus he is said to have killed three bears 
at a stroke, and to have scared away two lions 
with only a shovel (this being the only weapon 
at hand), in the town of Utrecht, and to have 
even dared to pull out the tongue of another lion. 
One day as he was hunting in the Tyrolian 
Alps, he lost his way and found himself all alone 
on the peak of the Martinswand. It was so high 

214 



Emperor Maxmilian. 215 

and steep a mountain, that he felt it impossible 
to descend its straight and rugged sides, sur- 
rounded by frightful abysses. He sounded his 
horn, but in vain — its notes did not reach the 
mountaineers below him. Then he thought he 
was a doomed man and he piously prayed for 
resignation in thus meeting with an untimely 
death. But the people of the valley of the river 
Inn had missed their beloved Max and looked 
for him everywhere, and on 'the third day they 
discovered his form on that dazzling height. They 
ran into the churches to pray for him, priests 
gave him their blessing from below ; but his 
faithful follower (the first marksman) hastened 
to scramble up to him and safely brought him 
down a circuitous path known only to himself. 
In the eyes of the people a miracle had been 
performed by an angel being sent to deliver him 
where human assistance had appeared to be of 
no avail. 

You will love this Emperor Maximilian quite 
as much as did his people, when I tell you that 
he tried to secure their rights against the over- 
bearing nobles, who thought they might do as 
they pleased. According to the new law made 
by the emperor, a duke or a shoemaker was 
to be judged with the same impartiahty 
and by the same tribunal. As to the feuds 
between towns and princes, they were to be 



2i6 Early German History. 

decided by a supreme court of law and the par- 
ties bound over to keep the peace according to 
the statute forbidding private feuds. All these 
laws were excellent in principle, but, in the 
somewhat lawless times of the Middle Ages 
there were now and then immense difficulties 
in carrying them out. But whatever remained 
to amend, was accomplished now by powder 
and shot, and the emperor lived to see many a 
proud castle on a lofty eminence leveled to the 
ground, and thus an end put to the cruelty and 
injustice of its lord by depriving him of his 
hiding-place. 

German towns became most prosperous in 
this reign. They manufactured the best linen 
and the finest silk ; and the most artistic trinkets 
in amber were only carved by Germans. 

The emperor was not slow in drawing his 
sword against whosoever insulted the German 
name, and he did so most successfully against a 
proud French knight, Claude de Barre, but after 
having conquered him, he generously raised him 
from the ground and reinstated him in those 
rights of knighthood which, by the rules of the 
combat, he had forfeited by his defeat 

Maximilian loved to live at Augsburg and 
Nuremberg, and no wonder ! For these ancient 
towns were truly artistic to behold, with their 
quaint houses, bay-windows, small turrets and 



Emperor Maximilian. 217 

stone-masonry of the most elaborate kind. The 
turrets were so constructed as to give the finest 
view far into the country, and the bay-windows 
were decked with flowers and always full of 
lovely maidens ready to smile on the gracious 
emperor as he passed by. Nuremberg produced 
the most costly armor in gold and steel and 
iron, and the most beautiful goblets and platters, 
and costly materials for dress and furniture. 
The churches were, and are still, celebrated for 
their rich carvings in marble and wood, and 
paintings can still be seen there by Michael 
Wohlgemuth, the father of oil painting. He 
became the master of that wonderful genius, 
Albert Diirer, whose works are the pride of Ger- 
many to this day, and especially of Nuremberg. 
His dear little modest house is shown to visitors, 
and a descendant of the well known family of 

the exhibits to those who wish to see 

it the portrait of his ancestor, in which his own 
features may be traced. The much admired 
well in the market-place, with its one iron ring 
inserted in its railings, has originated the follow- 
ing legend, which I will give you, although a 
modern production : 

Diirer was not well matched in the partner of 
his life; she was jealous of his art, which often 
absorbed his thoughts and deprived her of his 
attentions, for which alone she fancied he ought 



2i8 Early Geryfian History. 

to live. But v.'hen, like Hayden s wife, who used 
to call out, ' ' What, again at your spinet !'' 
Diirers wife would chide him for being again at 
his painting, he never g^ew impatient, but bore 
the matrimonial chain with resignation. After 
some years she fell ill, and he nursed her 
lovingly through weaiy^ days and nights until 
he beheld her Hfeless form, which he had not, 
with all his care and trouble, been able to snatch 
from the iron grasp of death. He would sit up 
with her alone, by the flickering Ught of a lamp, 
absorbed in the sad thought that he had failed 
to make her happy; large tear-drops slowly 
coursed down his cheeks until his long beard 
and dark velvet doublet became moistened 
by them. But exhausted nature at last claimed 
her right ; his head fell on his breast, and sleep 
rendered him insensible to his grief The women 
who were waiting in an adjacent room to dress 
the corpse, declared they saw an angel passing 
in to Diirer and having speech with him ; cer- 
tain it is that he had the following dream : A 
ministering angel came to console him, and 
taking the wedding ring from the finger of the 
deceased, held it up before him, saying: **This 
has not been a pledge of love and affection to 
thee, poor Diirer, and I have come to remove it 
from thee. I will turn it to iron, as an emblem 
of the chain thou hadst to wear, and it shall be 



Emperor Maximilian. 219 

inserted in the most beautiful fountain of this 
town as a memorial of thy life and works, an 
imperishable honor to its citizens/' So saying, 
the angel vanished, carrying off the ring. When 
Diirer awoke it was broad daylight. He looked 
for the ring, but in vain, and soon the news of a 
miracle spread through the town. An iron ring 
was found to have been inserted in the railings of 
the beautiful fountain (called the "Schoner Brun- 
nen"), in the market place, nobody knew when or 
by whom. All the craft of clever iron-workers 
could not detect the opening in the ring which 
must needs have admitted it; then what else 
could it be' but a miracle ? and as a miracle it 
was set down. 




c*^^.^^~|. 



CHAPTER XLVL 



ABOUT GUILDS, CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES. 




OETS, as well as painters, were loved 
and honored by Maximilian, and it is 
said that an ancient book of verse 
called the ''Thenerdank," was written at his dic- 
tation by his private secretary. It contains an 
account of his wedding trip, his knightly ad- 
ventures and feats, the games and customs of 
his time, and the mode in which knights and 
ladies and their pages and followers used to 
adorn themselves on festive occasions. Well, 
all this, although amusing to read, is not incred- 
ible ; but what would you say if I were to tell 
you of a shoemaker who was a poet? — his handi- 
craft not more sought after than his rhymes ? 
And yet, there existed such a man, called Hans 
Sachs, and if ever you should go to Nuremberg, 
you will see a pair of boots of his making, and 
read a series of poems also made by him, which 
are kept side by side at the museum. It seemed 
that his talent soon inspired other men in the 

220 



Guilds^ Corporations^ etc. 22 1 

guild of tradesmen, for they founded a society 
in which they called themselves " Meistersinger, " 
and laid down many rules to be observed in 
writing verses. If they sinned against them, 
they were sure to be found out by the -'merkers," 
who did not look for beauty of thought or lan- 
guage, but for strict adherence to the rules, and 
rejected such poems as were written more freely, 
calling them pedantic! 

The great composer, Richard Wagner, has 
illustrated all this ' ' red tape, " as we call it in 
our days, in his opera " Die Meistersinger von 
Niirnberg,'' in which a gifted and noble youth 
narrowly escapes losing his lady-love, who was 
to be the prize of the best poet, and nearly sees 
her pass into the arms of an old, benighted 
writer, because he of the red nose has studied 
the Meistersinger rules whilst the youth was 
taking the poetic flights of genius. It is Hans 
Sachs who saves the loving couple, and Hans 
Sachs, too, has written his best when setting 
rules at nought and giving free scope to his 
genius and wit. The Meistersinger were not 
altogether useless to art, as they helped to raise 
the middle classes by improving their manners 
and education. 

The most glorious invention of those times 
was, doubtless, the art of printing. It began by 
slow degrees ; the forming and setting of type, and 



222 Early German History, 

the making of paper, as well as the printing and 
binding, had all to be learnt, and had to go 
through many stages of improvement, until print- 
ing at last attained the ease and swiftness of our 
time, when manual labor is replaced' by steam 
power. Gradually, too, the thought began to 
dawn upon men that knowledge was the step- 
ping-stone to civilization, and that they might 
encourage efforts that way by publishing books 
which should be accessible to all classes both 
by their contents and their prices. This idea 
has since passed through many stages of im- 
provement while being carried out, until it 
seems to have been thoroughly perfected in our 
own times, a state of things that our Germans of 
the sixteenth century could not even have 
dreamt of. 

About this time the town of Nuremberg be- 
came famous for the invention of watches. It 
was a comfort, indeed, to carry such a time- 
keeper in one s pocket, and little did the wearers 
mind the cumbersome size of these egg-shaped 
watches, known by the name of ''Nuremberg 
eggs." They are now only preserved in mu- 
seums, as forming a striking contrast to the ele- 
gant productions of our time. 

But what were watches in comparison to the 
first post-office? It was established by Maxi- 
miHan. Until then, everybody's letters had to 



Guilds^ Corporations^ etc, 223 

be sent by special messengers engaged for the 
purpose. Think of the expense and danger in- 
curred by this method, the messengers often 
being sent to a great distance, mounted on 
horseback, and often delayed by gales and 
floods, besides want of punctuality. This clever 
emperor was the first who got letters forwarded 
almost as easily as they are now — an arrange- 
ment for which we cannot be too thankful. Of 
course, since the sixteenth century, postal im- 
provements have been made in all countries 
from year to year. The English first started the 
penny postage, under Sir Rowland HiU's sug- 
gestion and direction, and the present postmaster- 
general is constantly finding new means to 
facilitate the communication between England 
and foreign countries, both for letters and 
parcels. 

You will be sorry to hear of a dreadful acci- 
dent which befell the Empress Maria while out 
hunting with her husband. Her horse shied 
and threw her, and dragged her along with him 
in a mad gallop, so that she died, frightfully in- 
jured. The emperor tried in vain to save her, 
and, afterwards, he mourned so deeply that his 
fair locks turned grey. All his subjects grieved 
for him and for the loss of the empress. 

In 1 5 1 8, Maximilian assembled all the princes 
and nobles of his realm at Augsburg, and ex- 



224 Early German History, 

horted them to arm and unite in opposing the 
Turks, who were again threatening Germany 
''Let all Christian people expel these enemies of 
Christendom ; it is their bounden duty/' said he. 
But his hearers thought otherwise, saying that 
such a war would involve immense expenses, 
and the loss of many brave men who might 
serve their country in a better way. So they 
refused his first request. The second demand — 
that they would at his death elect his grandson, 
Charles — likewise met with a refusal, upon 
which the old emperor left the town, bitterly 
disappointed. His health, which had declined 
for some time, now utterly failed him, and he 
died at the small Austrian town of Wels, in the 
year 15 19. In his younger days, he had stipu- 
lated that he should be buried in the church of 
Neustadt, next to his beloved mother-queen, 
Eleonora, and there he rests accordingly from 
all his labors. 

With Maximilian, the Middle Ages and their 
customs came to an end. Falcons were no 
longer trained; tournaments, with knights and 
lovely ladies in gay apparel, went out of 
fashion ; nobles could no longer waylay travel- 
ers and rob them, and then retire to their strong- 
holds to hide their booty ; and the ancient laws, 
made in favor of the nobility only, were no 
longer able to prevail, for new laws had been 



Guilds^ Corporations^ etc, 225 

made, and justice was done to all classes of 
men. Kings were no longer ruled or excom- 
municated by popes, for a thorough change had 
come over the world. And then there arose a 
man who defied the Pope, and called for church 
reform. That was Dr. Martin Luther. He was 
neither a crowned king nor a duke, and yet he 
proved mightier than either, for he lived in the 
hearts of the multitude, and became the teacher 
of thousands, exhorting them to lead a Christian 
life. " Let them listen to the principles of honor, " 
he said ; 'let them hearken to the voice of con- 
science, and everlasting bliss will reward them 
in a better world." 




CHAPTER XLVIL 




VARIOUS TRADES AND PROFESSIONS IN THE MIDDLE 

AGES. 

UT let us leave this great man for the 
present, and, dear young readers, fol- 
low me, for I want to point out to 
you the improvements the Germans had made 
since they lived in huts and were clothed in 
bear-skins, and since I first began to tell you 
about them. They were now living in towns, 
with paved streets and commodious houses; 
and the well-to-do people, chiefly merchants, had 
formed a guild, as they called it. All such as 
belonged to it stood up as one man against the 
pride and injustice of the priests and nobles, to 
defend their own rights and privileges. Ere 
long the v\^orkmen imitated this successful insti- 
tution, and held meetings to consult about their 
rights and privileges, and agreed to help each 
other in upholding them. 

The housewives of that time thought it rather 
an honor to assist their maids and men-servants 
in menial work. They used to sow fennel, cher- 

226 



Trades and Professions. 227 

vil, and all sorts of useful and aromatic herbs in 
their kitchen-gardens, not forgetting to make 
onions thrive, too; and they stood in much 
need of such condiments, as it was before the 
days when merchants brought pepper and cin- 
namon, nutmegs and cloves, from the far 
East. 

Every land-owner brewed his own beer ; it 
was sickly-sweet, there being no hops to add a 
bitter taste to the sweet malt, j^\ it was gene- 
rally taken at breakfast by those who disliked 
milk or porridge ; for there was no tea or coffee 
or chocolate for them, poor things, at that time. 
The servants had to put up with a second edi- 
tion of the home-brewed, something like our 
teapot leaves when refilled with hot water from 
the kettle. As to wine, that was a luxury that 
came from abroad, for the produce of the country 
resembled weak vinegar. 

The housewife had to bake her own bread 
and cakes, and she would join her daughters 
and handmaidens in spinning both wool and flax, 
which, after being woven into stuffs, would often 
be dyed. Later on, regular tradesmen established 
themselves in towns, and provided the citizens, 
as they do in our time, with bread, meat, shoes, 
drapery, and so on. 

There were clever masons, builders and stone- 
cutters, and the masters had formed a company 



228 Early German History, 

all over Europe to assist each other with their 
experience in the construction of large edifices. 
Indeed their works have never been surpassed 
either in solidity or ornamentation. It was then 
that the Gothic style was first introduced, and 
you know how much it is prized in our own 
days. I need only name Erwin of Steinbach 
the architect of the Strasburg '' Mlinster/' as one 
of the great men of the Middle Ages. There 
were clever v/ood-turners, too, who achieved 
wonderful work with most inefficient tools, the 
dexterity of their hands supplying the want of 
good machinery. You must have seen some of 
the ancient paintings on church windows, as 
well as the beautiful trinkets, goblets and arms, 
so much valued by all collectors of curiosities in 
the nineteenth century. Italy is full of the 
treasures of antiquity, and many a tankard can 
be admired made by the famous Benvenuto 
Cellini — that is, if you can get your guide to 
unlock certain cabinets in the vestry of one of 
the beautiful churches where they are hid- 
den, jealously guarded from a gazing multi- 
tude. But then, on the other hand, the curtain 
before any ancient picture is willingly drawn 
back for the sake of the customary fee from 
visitors. In the churches of Nuremberg you will 
find the masterpieces of Adam Kraft, as well as 
the monument of St. Sebaldus, by Peter Fischer, 



Trades and Professions, 229 

and you will do well to remember these two 
celebrated Germans. 

Some restrictions were still imposed upon 
rising workmen by the masters of the craft, 
which prevented the due development of their 
faculties. For instance, if they showed them- 
selves more clever than their elders, they were 
cried down by them as bad and incapable 
workers, and had their tools taken away. Then, 
again, if the masters of a craft had done good 
service to the government, they were rewarded 
by certain privileges, useful to themselves, but 
very bad for the younger workmen. These 
monopolies were glaringly unjust. For example, 
it was ordered that beer must be bought of a 
certain brewer only, whilst others who had per- 
haps better beer were thus deprived of their 
customers ; or the masters of a trade were alone 
invested with the privilege of selling their work, 
whilst others, for a mile round, were not allowed 
to do so. Of course all this was bad for trade 
and commerce. Some few enriched themselves, 
whilst others, who were equally clever, remained 
poor ; so by degrees people began to feel the 
necessity of a change, and to understand the 
benefit of free trade. At first this made but slow 
progress, but it is now acknowledged by liberal 
men to be the best means of securing the pros- 
perity of the country. So much for trade. 



230 Early German History, 

Now, as to learning ; that was scarcely to be 
attained in the rough and ready mode of life led 
by the people of the Middle Ages in town or coun- 
try. Science could not flourish when outbreaks of 
robbers, devastations of villages, feuds 5f nobles 
and burghers, and quarrels between tradesmen 
were no strange occurrences. Monasteries 
were the only places for rest and quiet, and to 
monasteries all the studiously-inclined would 
retire. Situated as they were in some lonely 
tract of land, the turmoil of cities did not reach 
them. They were enriched by the gifts of pious 
people, their larders and cellars were constantly 
refilled, and the monks, not having to toil for 
their daily bread, sat each in his cell, entirely 
devoted to learning and knowledge. They 
studied Latin, that they might understand and 
copy valuable books lent to them by the Greek 
and Italian convents ; they began to translate 
the Bible from Latin into German, and they were 
the first to compile dictionaries of these 
languages. Some of the monks would write 
hymns to be sung in church, others composed 
and wrote down legends, others gave an account 
of the life and work of our Saviour, or wrote the 
chronicles of such saints as were buried in their 
church, and told the most curious things of 
them indeed — such as, that whoever touched 
their coffins or knelt before their image would be 



Trades and Professions, 



31 



saved from illness, and even, if dead, brought 
back to life again. The disciples of Christ had 
achieved such miracles, why not the saints also ? 
Peasants and burghers used to fly to the monks 
in case of illness. 







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CHAPTER XLVIII. 

QUACK MEDICINES AND THE IXVEXTIOX OF PRINTING. 

a" HERE were but few doctors to consult 
in Germany during the Middle Ages, 
and they were probably not more 
clever than the learned monks ; and as to 
chemists' shops, there were hardly any. Nobody 
would have had the courage to dissect a dead 
body as the means of study, but all adhered to 
certain ill-founded notions as to the origin of 
illness. There were certain seasons appointed 
for bleeding people indiscriminately, *'that bad 
blood might not accumulate and cause disease," 
they said, not knowing better. People did not 
trouble themselves to study the nature of simples 
or to find out their effect upon the human body. 
In their ignorance they judged from the outward 
appearance of a plant, and if it was curiously 
shaped they were sure that it must produce a 
good effect, and that if mixed up with all manner of 
others, it could not fail to heal the sick. Quantity be- 
fore quality was everybody's cherished opinion ; so 

2';2 



Quack Medicines — Printing, 233 

they had one mixture of no less than a hundred 
ingredients, Hzards and serpents amongst them. 
It was called Theriak, and they brewed it in the 
public market-place before the eyes of a crowd of 
spectators ! 

Itinerant doctors sold quack medicines, stand- 
ing erect on their cars, and attracting the igno- 
rant folk by their fanciful dress, as well as by a 
harlequin who always followed them and who 
never failed to excite the audience to laughter 
by his coarse jokes. Then the doctor proclaimed 
the miraculous powers of his draughts, his pills 
and his ointments, and generally succeeded in 
selling them to the multitude of believers in their 
magic power. Could you imagine for a moment, 
that a little figure of a man, cut out of the root 
of a plant, would be declared by the quack doc- 
tor to possess magic powers } But yet it was. 
' ' If treated properly, " quoth he, ' ' bathed in wine 
at every new moon, and always provided with 
neat clothing, it will double your treasures! Come 
and buy and you will be safe from sickness and 
danger; buy, buy, now or never! Or will you 
try my remedies to secure luck when you throw 
your dice, or render you invulnerable against 
your enemy's arms } Here they are; come and buy 
them." I shall never have finished with this non- 
sense if I do not stop soon, but I must just add 
that the seeds of ferns picked either on Christmas 



234 Early German History, 

Eve or the eve of St. John were said to render 
the bearer invisible ; and old beggar women 
and gipsies scoured the country, pilfering and 
steaHng, and pretending to sell remedies against 
witchcraft and demonology. 

The antidote to all this stuff and nonsense was 
luckily not far off. Nuns and monks knew the 
real use of plants, and used to rear the most use- 
ful and spicy herbs in their convent gardens ; 
whilst an electoral princess of Saxony, called 
Mother Anne, taught the use of them to the 
people. Most of the herbs came to Germany 
from the shores of the Mediterranean, and it is 
said the Crusaders first brought our w^ell-known 
shalot from Ascalon. 

The monks made no end of experiments with 
different metals. They had found out that iron, 
imbued with a solution of vitriol, seemed to turn 
into copper, and that copper and zinc, dissolved 
together, would become bronze, shining like 
gold, and *'why,'' said they, ''should we not 
make a tincture of gold — a tincture which might 
heal all maladies and conquer death itself — in 
one word, be the Elixir of Life } '' They tried to 
do so in vain for many years, and were called 
alchemists; but although they were unable to 
produce gold and insure everlasting life, they 
brought forth many beautiful colors useful to 
painters and metal workers. 



Quack Medicine — Printing, 235 

But what were all these inventions to the one 
I have already referred to — that of Johannes 
Guttenberg, the first printer ? He went to Stras- 
burg as a young stone-cutter, but ere long be- 
came the benefactor of mankind by his invention 
of movable types. After his death they were per- 
fected by two of his friends, Faust and SchofFen 
Knowledge was then so universally spread 
abroad, that the priests and bishops thought fit 
to make a law prohibiting the printing of any 
new works without their sanction ; they, and 
they alone, wanted to possess knowledge, and 
keep its advantages to themselves, and why 
should they let the common people rival them ? 

The law did pass, but to little purpose. Print- 
ing went on in secret, and people read and be- 
came wise. 




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CHAPTER XLIX 

THE peasants' WAR LIFE IX TOWNS. 

AM sorry to say that a wretched war, 
called the Peasants' War, could not be 
prevented. The nobles were unjust 
and exacting ; the country people implored 
liberty, and not being able to obtain it, fell on 
their oppressors and committed the most das- 
tardly acts of cruelty whenever they obtained a 
victory, while the leaders of the enemy revenged 
their outrages a hundred fold. 

Poor Germany ! She lost a hundred and fifty 
thousand men in this two years' wretched 
struggle, and from the Hartz to the Danube the 
country was one scene of slaughter and devasta- 
tion. The peasants tried to win over to their 
cause the bravest knight of his time, who was 
called Gotz von Berlichingen. He had lost his 
right hand in battle, but had had it replaced by an 
iron one, and went on skillfully wielding his 
sword '' I will consent to be your leader," 
said he, ''as long as you will show implicit 

236 



The Peasants War. 237 

obedience to my commands. No more pillaging- 
and burning, but honest warfare ! '' To secure 
Gotz s services they promised all that he de- 
manded ; but they did not keep their word, and 
got poor Gotz into a world of trouble by their 
cruelty to prisoners. Do read that wonderfully 
fine drama by Goethe, called " Gotz with the 
Iron Hand," and you will learn more about him. 
The peasants were at last overpowered by the 
nobles, and thus ended this disastrous war. 

Let us return to one of the peaceful towns 
of the Middle Ages, and see the kind of life led 
there. But pray, do not mind trifles, for the 
pavement was anything but even; there was a 
hole here and a hole there, and you might 
stumble over every kind of refuse thrown out 
into the street, and scarcely ever removed. The 
houses were by no means regular, and their 
window-panes were of horn instead of glass. 
At an early morning hour a bell wds tolled, the 
gates of the town opened, and the cattle driven 
out to grass. Then the venders of merchandise 
would assemble in the so-called Lauben, unlike 
our elegant arcades it is true, yet affording 
shelter from the inclemency of the weather. 
There money-changers sat at their tables to pro- 
vide travelers with the coin of the country in 
exchange for their foreign money. While watch- 
ing their proceedings you might be startled by 



238 Early German History. 

screams and shouts. What can it be? Why, 
the screams are found to proceed from a dishon- 
est baker who had attempted to cheat honest 
burghers in the weight of his bread, and the 
shouts of the crowd are triumphant because the 
culprit is being carried off to the next pond to 
get a thorough ducking in spite of his struggles. 
So much for his dishonesty. 

A bell is heard to tinkle incessantly; but why.? 
Listen and you will hear a man calling out, 
'*Come and bathe, one and all; the water is hot; 
bathing will do you good; be quick, or the water 
will cool. Come ! come !" One man calls out that 
his wine is the best, and why not buy it.'^ An- 
other man praises his unrivaled patties, — and 
every one of them is accompanied by the sound 
of a bell. Oh, what a noise! But worse than 
all, there, is a loud outcry about ** things going to 
be boiled without a pot." What nonsense! 
What can it mean ? W^ell, neither more nor less 
than that a grocer has been selling adulterated 
goods; that they have been turned out of his 
shop and are now lying piled up in the street, and 
are just going to be burnt on his very door-step. 
That is in derision called "boiling things with- 
out a pot." The turmoil is increased by whole- 
sale bales of goods just arrived from abroad be- 
ing weighed in the street and then hauled up to 
the store-houses, accompanied by the sing-song 



Life in Towns. 239 

of the workmen. Then there are itinerant 
preachers, monks collecting pennies for the 
bishops, beggars, sometimes needy, sometimes 
insolently screaming for relief, boys singing at 
the doors of benevolent patrons, monkeys drilled 
to perform all sorts of tricks, and children shriek- 
ing with delight at seeing them. But there is 
also the pleasant sight of a family distributing 
meat and bread to their indigent neighbors, and 
hearing in return their *'May God bless you." 
And look! the pigeons gather round the benevo- 
lent lady, picking up the crumbs that fall from 
her apron. It is a lovely picture to behold, and 
you would like to stop a little longer in admira- 
tion of it, but a call of ''Give room, all of you," 
makes you turn towards a troop of actors com- 
ing up the street. ''Give room, all ye that are 
pious, and behold your Saviour crucified be- 
tween the two thieves ; that is the spectacle we 
are going to give you !" Accordingly, men, 
women and children gather round these actors, 
who give, what they call, a "miracle play" in 
the midst of this crowded and noisy street. 

There was a sad prejudice against the Jews in 
the Middle Ages, and as unjust as it proved to 
be wicked. They had one and all to live in a 
few narrow streets allotted to them in each 
town (called the Jews' quarter), and badly 
housed as they were they had to pay a heavy 



240 Early German History. 

tax to the emperor for the privilege. They were 
commanded to wear yellow stripes on their 
gaberdines to single them out as Jews if ever 
seen in the streets belonging to the Christians; 
and silly boys might pull their long beards, and 
insult them at their pleasure, as belonging to an 
abject race. 

We of the nineteenth century were rejoicing 
in our superior wisdom and charity, and the 
liberal views that all men, being alike before 
God, whatever their creed, should be treated 
alike ; and civil rights and ofhces had been 
conferred not only upon Catholics, who had 
long been excluded from them, but also upon 
Jews, and men like Sir Moses IMontifiore were 
held up to the admiring world as the pattern of 
philanthropy ; when lo ! and behold ! there came 
an unexpected change. A court chaplain in 
Germany began to attack the Jews, and, not 
being checked by the highest authority, became 
the leader of an anti-Semitic party, as he called 
it, and found the worst of adherents. I am 
happy to say that England turned in disgust 
from these uncharitable views, and illumined 
by its light all the dark proceedings so unworthy 
of our century. 

You will laugh, my dear girls, when I tell 
you that the length of trains, and the height of 
coifs or head-dresses, were appointed by law 



Life in Towns. 241 

— yes, by law — and that any infringement of 
it led to trial and punishment. There were 
very cumbersome carriages to travel in, whilst 
ladies and gentlemen used to ride through the 
streets, causing many a stoppage by their long 
trains of armed followers. Men wore colored, 
tight-fitting clothes and long, peaked shoes, 
which was harmless enough, but, being armed 
as well as their servants, many a brawl occurred, 
followed by fierce combat and deadly strokes. 

Bridal processions moved slowly on through 
the streets ; and even corpses, followed by 
chanting priests and choristers, had to reach 
their abode of everlasting peace through the 
incessant turmoil above mentioned. As to the 
entry of a high dignitary, or the king himself, 
into a town, that did pass all description ; for 
bells tolled, drums beat, trumpets sounded, chil- 
dren in festive costumes sang, and the chosen 
few amongst them, representing angels, crowned 
the prince, and presented him with v/ine in a 
golden goblet. Sheep and oxen w^ere roasted 
whole in the streets for the benefit of the people, 
w^ho might also indulge their insatiable thirst at 
fountains flowing with wine instead of water. 
There were grand representations in theatres, 
and men, swinging torches, performed mad 
dances. Do some of you say you would like to 
have seen this.? Yes, just as you see the won- 



242 Early German History, 

ders of a pantomime from your quiet box ; but 
if you had, day by day, to encounter noise, 
bustle, and even danger, when you wanted to 
do a bit of shopping or visit a friend, you would 
soon get tired of it. But, above all,' at night, 
the mediaeval arrangements would not meet 
your approbation. There were no lanterns to 
light up the streets, so that wicked and unruly 
men might do a good deal of mischief without 
being found out. 

To remedy this evil, watchmen with lanterns 
paraded the streets, and pitch, burning in small 
pans at the corners of the highways, gave a faint, 
flickering light ; besides which, honest burghers 
were desired never to go about at night with- 
out hand-lanterns, and to hurry home as soon 
as the evening bell began to toll. That was the 
reminder for all those having a chat at street 
doors, or a game with their children in the play- 
ground, or for the young men, who vied with 
each other in manly exercises, or even for those 
who preferred carousing to a quiet supper at 
their own homes, to go in at eight o'clock. 
The watchman used to sing as he went by — 

•' Quench the fire, put out the light, 
Harmless spend the coming night." 

Those who did not heed the summons had the 
worst of it, for the watchmen collared them 
without more ado, and they spent the night in 



Life in Towns. 



243 



prison. It was only at Advent that hymns 
were sung in the streets at night, to prepare 
men's minds, as with angels' voices, for the 
approach of Christmas, that festival of love and 
peace. 




CHAPTER L. 

3L\RTIN BEHAni -\XD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS — 
CLOSE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 



E have seen that Nuremberof was one of 




t> 



the most celebrated towns of the 
i Middle Ages, the birthplace of great 



artists and sculptors. There was also a famous 
mathematician, Johannes ^Killer. His pupil, 
^lartin Behaim, made the first globe, and having 
thoroughly studied the shape of the earth, he 
loved to travel by land and sea to improve his 
knowledge. He thus came to Genoa, where he 
fell in with the famous Christopher Columbus, 
then a young man without name or fame. 

The two consulted together about the proba- 
bility of reaching the East Indies by the Atlantic 
Ocean, keeping steadily to a western course. 
The King of Portugal was even induced by 
Behaim to send out some ships in that direction; 
but the crews, having lost courage, returned 
without having accomplished their desired aim. 

Then Columbus, the Genoese, who had been 
growing more and more convinced that there 

244 



Martin Behaiin and Columbus, 245 

must be a new world in the far West, com- 
municated his ideas to the royal couple, Fer- 
dinand and Isabella, of Castille. After many 
fruitless attempts, he succeeded in being made 
commander of three ships, which he assured 
the king and queen would cause countless 
treasures to be showered down upon their 
country from the land beyond the sea. I need 
scarcely remind you of the hardships of that 
toilsome voyage, and of the ill-feeling and im- 
patience of the crew, who were convinced that 
Columbus was an idle dreamer, nor of his un- 
swerving faith and patience, and of that glorious 
moment when land was at last discovered, and 
the leaders of discontent fell contrite at his feet. 
You have read an account of the discovery of 
America, and I do not wish to '^ use vain repe- 
titions. " As to the story of the ^gg, I am not 
so sure that you know it. Excuse me if I am 
mistaken. When Columbus returned to Genoa, 
many of the courtiers wanted to lessen his merit 
by contending that any one might have dis- 
covered that large continent of America, since it 
was sufficiently broad and long to be found out. 
Columbus, instead of refuting their assertions, 
quietly took an ^g^ and said: ^'Pray, gentle- 
men, can any of you make this ^g'g stand on 
end Y' They all tried, but in vain. Then Columbus 
took it, slightly broke the shell flat at one end, 



246 Early German History, 

and there it stood before them. ''Ah!" said 
they, '' any one might have done that !" ''Cer- 
tainly," rejoined he; "the only difference is 
this — you might have done it, but I did it ; in 
the same way you might have discovered 
America, and I did so." Though this silenced 
them, it did not prevent their ill-will persecuting 
him, until, as you know, they got him accused 
and imprisoned. You have, I am sure, rejoiced 
at his release and grieved at his death, broken 
down by human ingratitude. 

I have told you a good deal about Germany, 
from the earliest times up to the sixteenth cen- 
tury, when the period of the Middle Ages closes 
with the death of the Emperor Maximilian ; and 
should you not be tired of my tales, you will find 
me ready to continue them. The Reformation 
is the first great event of modern history, and, 
if I am not mistaken, I have a good deal in 
store which may interest and instruct you. So 
let me say good-by until we meet again. 




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